REP. HOYLE DEMANDS ANSWERS ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO DECERTIFY AND TARIFF CANADIAN AIRCRAFT USED TO FIGHT WILDFIRES

REP. HOYLE DEMANDS ANSWERS ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO DECERTIFY AND TARIFF CANADIAN AIRCRAFT USED TO FIGHT WILDFIRES

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04), Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02), Congresswoman Janelle S. Bynum (OR-05), Congresswoman Sarah Jacobs (CA-51) and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative Greer (USTR) and Secretary of Commerce Lutnick demanding transparency on the Trump administration's plans to decertify Canadian aircraft and impose a 50 percent tariff. Canadian planes, parts and equipment are currently used in the United States to help fight wildland fires.

BACKGROUND

Canadian aviation manufacturers build a range of airtankers and smokejumpers that provide on the scene assistance to wildland firefighters. They're used for scooping and dropping water to stop flames from spreading, parachuting wildland firefighters into remove areas and spraying retardant to protect towns. Decertifying Canadian-made aircrafts from operating in the United States or significantly increasing tariffs on Canadian aviation parts could have a significant impact on wildfire response time and cost.

"Imposing a 50 percent tariff on these aircraft or stripping their certification would either make these planes too expensive to keep under contract or prevent them from flying at all, increasing the risk of uncontrolled fires that threaten our communities and the destruction of valuable public and private timber lands," Rep. Hoyle wrote.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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