Michelin has announced the closure of its factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, to take effect in mid-2008.
Tobacco company JTI Gallaher last year closed its factory in the town, and the latest news has increased concerns that more closures could follow.
The British Chambers of Commerce warned that more jobs were at risk if the government failed to provide support for export industries, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
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The Guardian, p. 27
The Independent, p. 57
