June 22, 2018 | Local, Aerospace
David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is discussing changes to a multibillion-dollar fighter jet procurement process that could make it harder for a U.S. company to win the order as trade relations between the neighbors sour, two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions said.
Canada is considering whether to penalize companies from countries that have caused it economic damage, the sources said on Wednesday. While a final decision is not expected before next year and the threat could be posturing, the move shows how the Trump administration's trade disputes are spilling over into other areas.
A spokeswoman for federal Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough - who has overall responsibility for major purchases of military equipment - declined to comment. Sources declined to be identified as the discussions are confidential.
Boeing Co's (BA.N) F-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-35 fighter were among the favorites to capture the contract to supply 88 planes, worth between C$15 billion ($11.3 billion) and C$19 billion.
Defense sources have long said the Canadian air force would prefer an American-built jet, citing the importance of operating easily with U.S. armed forces.
But a change in procurement terms would give more of a chance to European suppliers: Airbus SE (AIR.PA), which makes the Eurofighter; Saab AB (SAABb.ST), which makes the Gripen; and Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA), which makes the Rafale.
Defense sources, however, say the European jets are likely to become obsolete by around 2040, at which point they could no longer incorporate the latest technologies.
Canada has been trying unsuccessfully for almost a decade to buy replacements for its aging F-18 fighters, some of which are 40 years old. The former Conservative administration said in 2010 it would buy 65 F-35 jets but later scrapped the decision, triggering years of delays and reviews.
Ottawa has already said bids will be evaluated in part by examining whether firms competing for the order have caused any past economic damage to Canada. Officials said at the time this was aimed at Boeing, which last year launched a trade challenge against Canadian planemaker Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO).
Government officials are now discussing whether Canada should also consider economic damage caused by governments, a clear reference to worsening relations with Washington, said the sources.
“Politically it's hard to spend billions of dollars on contracts with a country that's hurting you,” said one of the sources, who asked to remain anonymous given the extreme sensitivity of the situation.
However, the sources emphasized that the discussions are at an early stage and Ottawa could eventually decide to drop the proposed language.
Canada - which is due to release the exact specifications for the jets next year - has not yet finished work on the clause referring to economic damage caused by a single firm.
U.S. President Donald Trump last month slapped tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, prompting Canada to announce its own retaliatory measures. Trump has also threatened tariffs on Canadian autos, which could badly hurt the economy.
Ottawa froze talks with Boeing about the fighter jet contest but after the company's trade challenge against Bombardier failed, Canadian officials made clear the firm would not be discriminated against if it chose to bid.
https://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKBN1JH2IA-OCABS
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BY DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Final preparations are being made for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team's biggest-ever tour to North America, which includes performances or flypasts over 6 Canadian cities, according to the British government. The team will perform over Halifax, Ottawa-Gatineau, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Vancouver, and Victoria. The first public event of the tour will be a flypast with aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force over the Halifax waterfront on Sunday, Aug. 11. That will be followed on Aug. 13 by a flypast of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and an aerobatic display at Aero Gatineau-Ottawa. The team will then visit a number of cities in the U.S. and later fly over Niagara Falls on Aug. 28. On Saturday Aug. 31 and Monday Sept. 2 they will perform at the Canadian International Air show in Toronto. On Sept. 26 the Red Arrows will do a flypast over Vancouver harbour. The same day the team will do a flypast over Victoria's harbour. It is the first time the Red Arrows have been to Canada and the US since 2008. The team consists of 11 pilots, nine of whom fly in the display, and more than 100 support personnel and technicians. Each of the pilots has previous fast-jet, operational experience flying the Tornado, Typhoon or Harrier. Flying Hawk T1 jets, the team is based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/red-arrows-aerobatic-team-coming-to-canada-flypast-of-parliament-hill-set-for-aug-13