WASHINGTON: US trade officials and Boeing declared victory Thursday after the World Trade Organization ruled the European Union had failed to end illegal subsidies for Airbus.
US Trade Representative Michael Froman said the WTO found that Airbus had won aircraft sales deals over Boeing in Europe, China, India and other countries helped by $22 billion in illegal subsidies from the European Union and member states.
“This report is a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers,” said US Trade Representative Michael Froman said.
“We have long maintained that EU aircraft subsidies have cost American companies tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue, which this report clearly proves.”
Boeing claimed that, as a result of the ruling Thursday, the US could levy retaliatory duties against the European Union of up to $10 billion a year.
“Today’s ruling confirms that Airbus both failed to withdraw old subsidies and instead put in place new subsidies for a grand total of almost $22 billion,” Boeing said.
“The next step for the US government is to obtain WTO authorization to impose billions in retaliatory duties.”
US officials did not say they were preparing to request WTO approval for retaliatory duties yet, as the Airbus can appeal the ruling.
The European aerospace giant also has its own case in the WTO claiming the United States illegally subsidizes Boeing sales.
“We are ready to negotiate if it (the EU) is interested,” a US trade official said.
US Trade Representative Michael Froman said the WTO found that Airbus had won aircraft sales deals over Boeing in Europe, China, India and other countries helped by $22 billion in illegal subsidies from the European Union and member states.
“This report is a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers,” said US Trade Representative Michael Froman said.
“We have long maintained that EU aircraft subsidies have cost American companies tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue, which this report clearly proves.”
Boeing claimed that, as a result of the ruling Thursday, the US could levy retaliatory duties against the European Union of up to $10 billion a year.
“Today’s ruling confirms that Airbus both failed to withdraw old subsidies and instead put in place new subsidies for a grand total of almost $22 billion,” Boeing said.
“The next step for the US government is to obtain WTO authorization to impose billions in retaliatory duties.”
US officials did not say they were preparing to request WTO approval for retaliatory duties yet, as the Airbus can appeal the ruling.
The European aerospace giant also has its own case in the WTO claiming the United States illegally subsidizes Boeing sales.
“We are ready to negotiate if it (the EU) is interested,” a US trade official said.
