Transport Canada certifies Gulfstream G700 and G800 days after approving smaller models

Transport Canada has certified the Gulfstream G700 and G800 business jets, days after approving the smaller G500 and G600, according to a government document issued Monday.

The decision clears the final two Gulfstream models that had been awaiting validation by Canadian authorities. The G500 and G600 aircraft were certified on February 15.

The approvals follow public criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who last month accused Canadian regulators of taking too long to validate the U.S.-built aircraft. In a social media post, Trump threatened to retaliate by decertifying Canadian-made Bombardier Global Express business jets and imposing 50% import tariffs on aircraft produced in Canada.

Gulfstream Aerospace, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, had already secured type certification for the aircraft from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Under international aviation agreements, the country of design — in this case the United States — is responsible for primary certification. Other regulators, including Transport Canada, typically validate that approval before allowing local operation.

It was not immediately clear why the certification process became a political issue, as Gulfstream aircraft do not require Canadian validation to operate in Canada under certain frameworks, though certification facilitates sales and registrations in the country.

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the approvals were part of the normal regulatory process. “There were applications in,” he told reporters in Ottawa. “They were at various stages.”

The dispute drew concern from aviation analysts, who warned against linking safety oversight to trade negotiations. With the G700 and G800 now validated, all four Gulfstream large- and mid-cabin models recently under review have been cleared by Canadian authorities.

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Ricardo Meier

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