The UK’s prime minister criticised Boeing and warned of the perils of creeping protectionism after a complaint by the Chicago plane maker led to punishing duties on its rival Bombardier, threatening thousands of jobs in Northern Ireland.
Theresa May said that Boeing’s complaint to the US trade authorities undermined its lucrative relationship with the UK government and threatened thousands of jobs in Northern Ireland, but stopped short of vowing retaliation against the company.
The government said it was confident of overturning the ruling, but the announcement of duties of almost 220 per cent on some aircraft was a damaging blow to the personal prestige of Theresa May, the prime minister, who had personally lobbied Donald Trump on Bombardier’s behalf.
The prime minister, whose minority government relies on support from a Northern Irish party to stay in power, said on Twitter that she was bitterly disappointed by the decision.
“We have a long-term partnership with Boeing in various aspects of government and this is not the sort of behaviour we expect from a long-term partner and it undermines that partnership," May said in response to a question at a Bank of England event on Thursday.
More than 4,000 jobs are at risk at a manufacturing plant in Belfast making wings for the aircraft affected by the decision.
The setback was seized on by government critics to highlight the difficulties of pro-Brexit Britain, after May’s government had highlighted the importance of striking a new trade deal with the United States after leaving the European Union.
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour opposition, said the prime minister should reflect on “how 220 per cent tariffs are going to boost our exports from this country.”
Boeing claimed that the Canadian firm was receiving unfair advantage by using government subsidies to sell planes at artificially low prices.
The UK government retaliated with a warning that future Boeing defence contracts with the UK were at risk over its stance in the Bombardier dispute.
“Boeing has significant defence contracts with us and still expects to win further contracts,” said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. “Boeing wants and we want a long-term partnership but that has to be two-way.”
Analysts pointed out that the UK’s options to take on Boeing was limited by the company’s own investments in the UK. The company says that the UK is its third largest supplier after the US and Japan and has started building a manufacturing plant in northern England. Boeing said the firm and its suppliers account for nearly 19,000 jobs in the UK.
Unions accused the prime minister of failing to protect workers. “Theresa May has been asleep at the wheel when she could and should have been fighting to protect these workers,” said Ross Murdoch, of the GMB union. “It’s high time she woke up.”
Boeing claimed that Bombardier received at least $3 billion in subsidies from Britain, Canada and the province of Quebec, allowing it to sell planes to US-based Delta Air Lines for less than cost price.
Delta last year agreed to buy 75 of Bombardier’s new CS100 aircraft with an option for 50 more in a deal worth an estimated $5.6 billion.
Delta says that Boeing does not make similar sized planes it needs for short to medium term trips and Business Secretary Greg Clark said the preliminary finding was “unjustified”.
“We’re confident that we will be able to demonstrate that and have this case dismissed,” Mr Clark told Sky News.
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
AIDA%20RETURNS
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The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
