The European Union has been urged to step in and help resolve the aerospace trade dispute threatening hundreds of jobs in the Belfast factory of plane-maker Bombardier.
The European Union has been urged to step in and help resolve the aerospace trade dispute threatening hundreds of jobs in the Belfast factory of plane-maker Bombardier.
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise (ISME) Association has asked the EU not to « let the British stew in their own juices », but instead « aggressively oppose » Boeing’s claim against Bombardier.
In a recent preliminary ruling, the US Department of Commerce imposed a 220% tariff on Bombardier’s new C-Series jets following a complaint by Boeing that its Canadian rival had received subsidies from the Canadian and British governments.
The decision is threatening 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 ».
The body added: « ISME recognises that there might be a temptation to let the British stew in their own juices for a while as the Brexit train wreck slowly piles up.
« It would be folly for the EU to give in to that temptation. »
ISME CEO Neil McDonnell warned the EU not to wait until the US trade commission rules on the Department of Commerce decision next year before intervening.
« (The EU) should signal right now that it will unconditionally, unequivocally and aggressively oppose protectionist measures by the US with tariffs of like effect, » he said.
« 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. »
Earlier on Wednesday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said he would raise concerns over the potential impact the Bombardier-Boeing trade dispute could have on Northern Ireland’s peace process when he met US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross in Washington.
In a statement before his two-day trip, Mr Coveney said he would be outlining to Mr Ross « the Irish Government’s concern as to the potentially serious implications of a negative ruling for the Bombardier workforce in Belfast and for wider economic stability in Northern Ireland which is an essential support to the peace process ».
