If the CSeries is such a great plane why was it so badly delayed and struggling mightily to find buyers anywhere in the world well before any of these U.S. sanctions?  We had full access to the U.S market for ages but sales only trickled in.  We had full access to many countries in Europe, Asia, South America and beyond, but sales only trickled in.

Blaming Airbus and Boeing doesn't cut it since neither of them make a competing jet.