LONDON (Reuters) - British Business Secretary Greg Clark said on Tuesday he welcomed the deal for Airbus (>> Airbus SE) to buy a majority stake in Bombardier's (>> Bombardier, Inc.) C Series jetliner program, saying Britain would work closely with the firms to protect its interests.

"There is some way to go before the deal is completed and our number one priority throughout will be the workforce in Northern Ireland," Clark said in a statement, adding Britain would also continue to work with Canada to end Bombardier's costly trade dispute with Boeing Co (>> Boeing Company (The)).

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

Stocks treated in this article : Airbus SE, Boeing Company (The), Bombardier, Inc.