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Trump's Jet Ban Threat Alarms Bombardier Workers Across America
President Donald Trump threatened to stop Bombardier aircraft from being sold in the United States.
Bombardier is a Canadian company that employs thousands of people in America.
Many of its US workers are based in Wichita, Kansas.
Workers there worry that a ban could hurt their jobs and families.
Trump says the company should build more planes in the United States.
Some Kansas leaders agree that more production should come to America but oppose a ban.
They say blocking the planes could hurt American workers and businesses.
No formal ban has been introduced, and Bombardier says its US operations have not changed for now.
Bombardier employees in Wichita, Kansas, fear President Donald Trump's threatened aircraft ban could cost them their jobs.
Trump said Bombardier should build more aircraft in the United States and stop treating America like a "piggybank."
Bombardier employs about 1,500 people in Wichita and another 2,000 workers elsewhere in the United States.
The company said its US operations had not changed, while the White House has not taken formal action or defined the proposed restrictions.
Kansas officials warned a ban could damage Bombardier and the Wichita region, while Senator Roger Marshall urged the company to expand locally.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, Bombardier employees, company officials, and Kansas leaders including Senator Roger Marshall and Commissioner Jim Howell.
- What
- Trump threatened to restrict or ban Bombardier aircraft, prompting concern among the company's US workers.
- Where
- The concern is centered in Wichita, Kansas, where Bombardier employs about 1,500 people.
- When
- Trump made the threat last week; no formal restrictions have been imposed.
- Why
- Trump said Bombardier aircraft were not good enough and argued that the company should build more products in the United States.
Workers and Regional Critics
Domestic Manufacturing Advocates
Effect of a threatened ban
Workers and Regional Critics
Bombardier workers and Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell fear restrictions could cost American jobs and damage Wichita's aviation industry.
Domestic Manufacturing Advocates
Senator Roger Marshall argues that because the United States buys more than half of Bombardier's products, more aircraft should be built in the country.
How to increase US production
Workers and Regional Critics
Workers and local officials favor protecting existing US operations and warn that a ban could harm employees and the regional economy.
Domestic Manufacturing Advocates
Trump and Marshall support moving more Bombardier manufacturing to the United States, with Trump conditioning access to the US market on greater domestic production.
Key facts
- Wichita workforce
- Bombardier employs about 1,500 people in Wichita, Kansas.
- Other US employees
- The company employs another 2,000 people across the United States.
- US operations
- Bombardier operates service centers in Arizona, Texas, Florida, and Connecticut, and has manufacturing operations in Texas and California.
- Threat status
- The White House has taken no formal steps to impose the threatened restrictions.
- Company response
- Bombardier said there were no changes to its US operations at the time of its statement.
- Kansas expansion proposal
- Senator Roger Marshall urged Bombardier to expand its Wichita workforce to more than 3,000.
- Earlier threat
- Trump previously threatened a 50 percent tariff on Canadian aircraft and possible certification restrictions but did not implement them.
Quotes
A Bombardier employee in Wichita
Employee at Bombardier’s Wichita, Kansas, facility
“We have thousands of Americans working here, and I don’t want to be thinking about losing my job.”
thehansindia.com
“If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank,’”
thehansindia.com
Jim Howell
Republican Sedgwick County commissioner in Kansas
“But no, he’s not perfect. And I think that this is one of those things where I’m just shocked that he wanted to wade into this, because I don’t think it’s helping.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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