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Theresa May and Justin Trudeau show united front over Bombardier fears

British Prime Minister Theresa May during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Parliament Hill in Ottowa. Picture by Stefan Rousseau, Press Association
British Prime Minister Theresa May during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Parliament Hill in Ottowa. Picture by Stefan Rousseau, Press Association British Prime Minister Theresa May during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Parliament Hill in Ottowa. Picture by Stefan Rousseau, Press Association

THERESA May and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have shown a united front over a trade dispute involving aerospace giant Bombardier which could affect thousands of jobs in Northern Ireland.

A ruling is expected next week from US trade authorities on a complaint from Bombardier's rival Boeing, which alleges that the Canadian company has been involved in dumping of its C-Series jets on the American market.

Mrs May has already spoken to US President Donald Trump about the case, telling him in a phone call last week about her concerns over the possible impact on jobs at Bombardier's Belfast operation, where the plane's wings are made.

Bombardier is the north's largest manufacturing employer and Mrs May is understood to have been pressed to take action by DUP leader Arlene Foster, whose 10 MPs are propping up the minority Conservative government in the House of Commons.

Following a meeting with Mr Trudeau in Ottawa yesterday, the British Prime Minister said she will raise the issue of Bombardier again with Mr Trump when the pair meet later this week, telling reporters: "I will be impressing on him the significance of Bombardier to the United Kingdom and particularly to jobs in Northern Ireland".

She said she and Mr Trudeau had discussed how they could work together on the issue, adding: "I want to see a resolution that protects those jobs in Northern Ireland".

Mr Trudeau said Canada is looking to replace its fighter jet fleet, with Boeing's Super Hornet aircraft considered as a potential replacement.

But he added: "We won't do business with a company that's busy trying to sue us and put our aerospace workers out of business".