THE SURPRISE but nonetheless welcome decision by the US International Trade Commission not to impose near 300 per cent tariffs on the Bombardier C-Series jet will be widely welcomed here.
It had been expected that Boeing would win the day based on its claim that the C-Series had been unfairly subsidised by the Canadian government.
If the decision had gone its way many jobs in Belfast would have been put in jeopardy, potentially causing significant damage to the economy.
This unexpected good turn of events is tempered by the devastating news that around 300 jobs have been put in serious danger at the Kilroot and Ballylumford power stations because of a failure to win a significant contract.
The fate of the workforce could be decided in the next few months. Hopefully, like the Bombardier situation, their prospects can be improved too.
