26/09/2017

Decision Due In Bombardier Dispute

Aerospace firm Bombardier is to find out if it will face heavy financial penalties as a result of a trade dispute with Boeing.

American firm Boeing claimed Bombardier was selling its C-Series jet below cost in the United States.

Around 1,000 workers in Northern Ireland are directly employed on the C-Series project.

In a statement earlier this month Bombardier said: "Bombardier strongly disagrees with the assertions made by Boeing in its petition regarding the alleged threat caused by future exports of the C-Series family of aircraft to the US.

"We are responding to the petition proceedings, and will not speculate on the impact on our Belfast site should the Boeing petition be successful.

"However, as Bombardier Belfast is responsible for the design, manufacture and assembly of the advanced composite wings for the C Series aircraft, the C Series programme is critical to the long-term future of our Northern Ireland operations."

The Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government pledged to invest almost £135 million in the establishment of the C-Series manufacturing site in Belfast.

The US Department of Commerce is expected to announce its first verdict on Tuesday, 26 September.

(CD)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 March 2010
Aircraft Apprentices 'Key To Success'
The role of local aeronautical apprentices has been praised. During a visit to Bombardier Aerospace, the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey was updated on the progress of the company's new CSeries aircraft programme, for which Belfast is designing and manufacturing the wing.
11 December 2017
Union Delegation Travels To Montreal To Save Bombardier Jobs In NI
A delegation from Unite the Union have travelled to Montreal to save Bombardier jobs in Northern Ireland. The announcement was made ahead of the US department of commerce's final determination on whether to put tariffs of 300 per cent on Bombardier C-series passenger jets.
11 October 2017
Bombardier Workers To Meet With MPs In London
A number of Bombardier workers from Belfast are travelling to London to meet with MPs to press the government to defend jobs at the firm. Boeing has accused Bombardier of selling its C-Series jet below cost price in the US. The US later hit Bombardier with 300% tariffs in its trade dispute with Boeing.
27 September 2017
Call For UK Govt To Intervene Over Bombardier Tax Ruling
Unite the union is calling on the Government to intervene after the US chose to impose a tax on the C-Series made by Bombardier which could put thousands of jobs in Belfast in jeopardy. Over 4,000 people are employed by the Canadian firm in Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Theresa May said she is "bitterly disappointed" by the decision.
09 October 2017
Union Disappointed Over Ruling Against Bombardier
Unite the union is disappointed with the preliminary ruling by the United States' Department of Commerce that recommended additional tariffs of 80% be imposed on Bombardier's C-Series over allegations of price-dumping.