May phones Trump as Boeing dispute threatens Bombardier

[northernladyuk]

Thanks, but I'm aware of the difference between UK, GB and British Isles.

Very good.

[The_Equalizer]

A bit of precision doesn't hurt.

Thanks, but I'm aware of the difference between UK, GB and British Isles.

[northernladyuk]

You've lost me on that one. By British I meant the dictionary definition.

A bit of precision doesn't hurt.

[WTFH]

I suspect they'd be told, rightfully, to bu66er off.

The right thing to do and what TM will do to remain running the UK are not necessarily the same thing.

[The_Equalizer]

There's nothing wrong with it at all, what I'm saying is that IF May's phone call fails, she will be expected to pick more cash from the magic money tree to keep the DUPe on her side in government.

I suspect they'd be told, rightfully, to bu66er off.

[The_Equalizer]

FTFY

You've lost me on that one. By British I meant the dictionary definition.

[WTFH]

What's wrong with wanting to protect British jobs?

There's nothing wrong with it at all, what I'm saying is that IF May's phone call fails, she will be expected to pick more cash from the magic money tree to keep the DUPe on her side in government.

[northernladyuk]

What's wrong with wanting to protect UK jobs?

FTFY

[sal]

Couple of hundred jobs, no biggie. They can just have the jobs of the EU immigrants we are kicking out. Begging for scraps...

Why is the PM getting involved? It's not even a British company

[The_Equalizer]

This is a non-story. If it fails, the DUPe will just phone her and ask for another £1.5bn from the magic money tree.

What's wrong with wanting to protect British jobs?

[northernladyuk]

This is a non-story. If it fails, the DUPe will just phone her and ask for another £1.5bn from the magic money tree.

Hope it works out for the workers.

[WTFH]

This is a non-story. If it fails, the DUPe will just phone her and ask for another £1.5bn from the magic money tree.

[scooterscot]

Special relationship muscle flexing - Trump promised a special deal. A great deal for the UK. Lets see...

Prime Minister Theresa May has phoned US President Donald Trump over a threat to jobs at Bombardier in Belfast from a trade dispute.

In 2016, Canadian firm Bombardier won an order to supply up to 125 CSeries passenger jets to US airline Delta.

The wings for the CSeries are made at Bombardier's Belfast plant.

However, rival aircraft firm Boeing has complained to the US authorities that the deal was unfairly subsidised by the Canadian state.

The US Department of Commerce is due to make a ruling later this month.

It could hit Bombardier with punitive tariffs.

What does Bombardier do in Northern Ireland?
Turbulent times for Bombardier
BombardierPacemaker
The wings for the C Series planes are made in Belfast
Tariffs could make it very difficult for Bombardier to find new CSeries customers in the US.

The CSeries project supports hundreds of jobs in Belfast.

Phone call to Trump

A spokesperson said the government "is working tirelessly to safeguard Bombardier's operations and its highly skilled workers in Belfast".

"Ministers across government have engaged swiftly and extensively with Boeing, Bombardier, the US and Canadian governments," they said.

"Our priority is to encourage Boeing to drop its case and seek a negotiated settlement with Bombardier."

The spokesperson said Mrs May raised the issue and her concern to protect jobs in Northern Ireland in a call with President Donald Trump last week.

They also said Business Secretary Greg Clark went to Chicago to meet Boeing's chairman, president and chief executive officer, Dennis Muilenburg.

Bombardier managers in Belfast are also understood to have recently briefed trade unions about the importance of the case.

Boeing has alleged that Bombardier engaged in "price dumping" by agreeing to sell 75 of their planes for almost $14m (£10.6m) below their cost price.

The company said it had appealed to the International Trade Commission "to restore a level playing field in the US single-aisle airplane market".

"Boeing had to take action as subsidised competition has hurt us now and will continue to hurt us for years to come, and we could not stand by given this clear case of illegal dumping," it said in a statement.

"Global trade only works if everyone plays by the same rules of the road, and that's a principle that ultimately creates the greatest value for Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and our aerospace industry."

source: May phones Trump as Boeing dispute threatens Bombardier - BBC News