Bombardier's upstart jet regains US access in win over Boeing

Bombardier’s marquee jet, slapped with crushing US tariffs last year, got a new lease on life when an American trade panel nixed the duties. The Friday ruling, a surprise defeat for Boeing, enables Bombardier to jump-start sales campaigns in the world’s largest aircraft market. A revival of orders would help debt-laden Bombardier, Canada’s largest aerospace company, add momentum to its comeback. CEO Alain Bellemare thrilled investors in October by forging a C Series partnership with Airbus. Now the two planemakers are poised to win new customers for the cutting-edge jetliner in Boeing’s backyard. “Other airlines in the US are probably going to take a closer look,” said Dan Fong, an analyst at Veritas Investment Research Corp. in Toronto. “If you get another US anchor, it will accelerate the sales momentum globally. The US is home to the most experienced aircraft operators in the world, and everyone will be keeping an eye on what happens there.” The US International Trade Commission ruled Friday that American industry isn’t being harmed by C Series sales. The unanimous vote blocked a Commerce Department decision last year to impose duties of almost 300% after a complaint by Boeing. The Chicago-based company said Bombardier sold the C Series in the US at less than fair value while benefiting from government subsidies.<br/>