US imposes 300% import tariff on Bombardier
Chamber of Commerce rules in favour of Boeing over claims of illegal state subsidies
The US Chamber of Commerce has rejected an appeal against the huge tariffs it has imposed on Bombardier in favour of rival aerospace firm Boeing.
A further tariff of 80% was imposed on the import of Bombardier’s C-Series, adding to the 220% rate already introduced by Congress. Boeing has claimed that Bombardier benefited from illegal state subsidies from Canada and the UK and dumped the planes at “absurdly low” prices.
The imposition of massive tariffs on US imports threatens Bombardier jobs in Northern Ireland: 4,000 are directly linked to the construction of the C-Series.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The BBC says the programme is also important to 15 smaller aerospace firms in Northern Ireland and, by more than tripling the cost of a C-Series aircraft sold in the US, could “also jeopardise a major order placed last year from US airline Delta”.
Reacting to the Chamber of Commerce decision, a spokesperson for Bombardier said the ruling represented an “egregious overreach and misapplication of US trade laws”.
“This hypocrisy is appalling” the spokesperson added, “and it should be deeply troubling to any importer of large, complex, and highly engineered products.”
The row between Boeing and Bombardier comes just as the UK is looking to negotiate a number of major international trade deals.
Theresa May described the original decision to impose US tariffs as “hugely disappointing”. It underscores the “defensive trade policy” of President Donald Trump as he looks to prioritise US companies as part of his America First economic strategy, says Reuters.
Both Britain and Canada have threatened to cancel contracts with Boeing and avoid buying military equipment but it is unclear how they will react to the latest round of trade tariffs.
A final ruling on the case is expected early next year.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 26, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - the House GOP abandon ship, Joe Biden sets his stall, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Boeing's problems have become an opportunity for China's plane manufacturer
Under the Radar COMAC is looking to pass both Boeing and Airbus in the international market
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
New York may seize Trump's assets for $450M penalty
Speed Read The former president likely owes $600 million from two civil judgments in New York
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brexit: where we are four years on
The Explainer Questions around immigration, trade and Northern Ireland remain as 'divisive as ever'
By The Week UK Published
-
How Boeing dropped the ball on air safety
Talking Point The company has been plagued by accidents and crashes that have hurt its once-golden reputation
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
China delaying Boeing airplane deliveries in potential blow to US relations
Speed Read Chinese airlines are reportedly delaying the deliveries as a result of safety concerns over the 737 Max jet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What Trump's New York fraud conviction means for his business empire
Speed Read A New York judge has ordered many of Trump's companies to be placed into receivership and dissolved, but questions remain
By Peter Weber Published
-
Evergrande was just the beginning. China's property sector is in trouble.
Talking Point It's not clear that Xi Jingping's government has the tools to fix the problem
By Joel Mathis Published
-
Judge says he can compel Rupert Murdoch to testify in Fox News defamation trial
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published