UK warns Boeing over Bombardier row
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Michael Fallon has warned US aircraft-maker Boeing that its dispute with Canadian rival Bombardier “could jeapordise” its defence contracts with the UK government.
Britain’s Defence Minister made the comment after the US imposed a 220-percent import tariff on Bombardier’s CSeries jets, the wings of which are made in Belfast.
Sir Michael Fallon tells Boeing its stance in Bombardier row isn't the sort of behaviour the UK Gov expects of a long term trading partner. pic.twitter.com/3NGzcMGreE
— David Young (@DavidYoungPA) September 27, 2017
The planned tariff puts some 4,200 Northern Irish jobs at risk.
“It’s a big blow for Bombardier, it’s a big blow for Canada, it’s a big blow for Northern Ireland and therefore Theresa May. It’s debatable again as to whether this is going to eventually get agreed upon of course. It’s still got to go through one more stage. It’s a huge tariff so they’re going to need substantial evidence that suggests that these planes were sold for significantly subsidised prices,” Oanda senior market analyst Craig Erlam explained.
It comes as a result of Boeing complaining that both the UK and Canada had offered Bombardier unfair state subsidies.