Theresa May anger as USA slaps 'absurd' Bombardier tax putting 4,200 UK jobs at risk

Theresa May and union bosses have been left stunned
by the US Department of Commerce’s (DoC) decision
to impose an interim tariff of nearly 220 per cent on a
new model of passenger jet.
Mrs May said on Twitter: “Bitterly disappointed by
initial Bombardier ruling.
"The Government will continue to work with the
company to protect vital jobs for Northern Ireland."
More than 4,000 people are employed in Belfast by the
Canadian multinational and thousands more jobs in
Northern Ireland are supported through the
manufacturer's supply chain.
Mrs May had lobbied Mr Trump over the dispute
sparked by complaints from rival Boeing that
Bombardier received unfair state subsidies from the
UK and Canada, allowing the sale of airliners at below
cost prices in the US.
Bombardier bosses have described the US trade tariffs
as 'absurd'
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Thousands of jobs could be at risk at Bombardier's
Belfast factory
A
spokeswoman for Britain’s Department of Business
said today: “This is a disappointing interim statement
but only the first step in the process.
“Boeing’s position in this case is unjustified and frankly
not what we would expect of a long-term partner to
the UK – as well as damaging the wider global
aerospace industry.
“We will continue to work closely with the Canadian
government to encourage all parties to reach a
credible resolution as quickly as possible.”
Bombardier is Belfast's biggest employer
US secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross said the
subsidisation of goods by foreign governments was
something the Trump administration "takes very
seriously".
Bombardier labelled the tariff "absurd" and the UK
Government said the statement was "disappointing"
and pledged to defend UK interests "at the very
highest levels".
Unions warned the decision was "unlikely" to be
overturned by Mr Trump, who has been clear in his
aim to fiercely protect US jobs.
Ross Murdoch, the GMB union's national officer, said
the ruling was a "hammer blow" to Belfast and risked
sending shock waves through Northern Ireland's
economy.
He said: ”Theresa May has been asleep at the wheel
when she could and should have been fighting to
protect these workers. It's high time she woke up.”
Mr Murdoch warned a further 9,400 supply chain jobs
could be wiped out in Northern Ireland on top of those
directly employed at the plant.
Unite Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly said: "The
decision taken by the US department of commerce
was not unexpected - unfortunately it is unlikely to be
overturned by president Trump whose protectionist
tendencies are well-known.
"The threat of punitive tariffs on the C-Series will cast
a shadow over Bombardier's future unless the
company can source alternative and substantial sales
outside the US market."
Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster
pressed Mrs May to raise the issue with Mr Trump
when the two met in New York earlier in September.
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Mrs Foster described the DoC's determination was
"very disappointing" but said it was not the end of the
process.
She said: ”The C-Series is a hugely innovative aircraft
that is vital to Bombardier's operations in Belfast.
"It is this innovation that sets the C-Series apart and it
is not in direct competition with Boeing."

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