Bombardier says there's still life in C Series despite ruling

Bombardier remains confident that it will win orders for its C Series jetliner this year, even after losing a ruling in a trade battle with Boeing that essentially shuts off the US market. “We’re working opportunities in many, many continents,” Colin Bole, senior VP sales at the Montreal-based company’s commercial aircraft unit, said Thursday. “I’m still very confident that we will have several transactions by the end of the year.” Bombardier hasn’t booked a major C Series sale since April 2016. The US Commerce Department on Tuesday slapped preliminary import duties of 220% on the aircraft, citing a Boeing’s complaint that the plane had received improper subsidies in Canada. The ruling could be reversed through several avenues. “We are certainly working opportunities in China and in other parts of Asia,” Bole said at an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. “Africa, Middle East and Europe are predominant. Who knows? The US is not impossible either.” Boeing had sought levies of about 79 percent. “We thought 79 percent was pretty outrageous, but this is beyond silly,” Bole said. “I can’t imagine seeing a similar number in the definitive ruling.” <br/>