Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Call for EU to help save Bombardier
Businesses plead for action
THE European Union has been urged to help save hundreds of jobs at Bombardier in Belfast.
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association – or ISME – has asked the EU to “aggressively oppose” Boeing’s claim against Canadian plane-maker.
The US Department of Commerce has imposed a 220% tariff on Bombardier’s new C Series jets following a complaint by Boeing that its rival had received subsidies from the Canadian and British governments.
The decision threatens to derail a major contract with Delta Airlines – jeopardising jobs at Bombardier’s Belfast plant, which employs more than 4,000 people and builds the wings for the C Series aircraft.
The US International Trade Commission will decide in February whether to uphold or reject the proposed tariff.
ISME said the European Union “must act to ensure that jobs across the European Union, whether they be in Ireland, the United Kingdom or any other European state are protected”.
It added: “ISME recognises that there might be a temptation to let the British stew in their own juices for a while as the Brexit trainwreck slowly piles up.
“It would be folly for the EU to give in to that temptation.”
ISME chief Neil Mcdonnell warned the EU not to wait until the US trade commission rules on the Department of Commerce decision next year.
He added: “This is the right fight to pick, with the right bully, at the right time. We need the US to understand this isn’t a problem it can tweet its way out of.”