European Planemaker Says It Has Complied With All WTO
Rulings
In the back-and-forth quarrel between Boeing and Airbus, the
European planemaker says the threat of possible U.S. trade
sanctions are "empty claims," and that Airbus has "fully addressed
WTO demands in a comprehensive manner."
Reuters reports that the remarks came in the form of an e-mail
from Airbus Public Affairs Chief Rainer Ohler, who also held that
the U.S. had made many unfounded claims and requests in the
years-long dispute between Airbus and Boeing. Each claims the other
has received illegal government subsidies for construction of new
airplanes.
In a statement posted on its website, Boeing said that it
supported "all the efforts by the U.S. Trade Representative to seek
full compliance with the removal of all the illegal government
subsidies to Airbus -- particularly market-distorting launch aid,
the most pernicious form of subsidy Airbus was found to have
received. There can be no compliance with the WTO's ruling that
ignores any non-commercial launch aid that Airbus is currently
receiving for the A350. Despite the very clear WTO ruling,
EADS/Airbus and European governments have failed to remove
outstanding subsidies. This illegal subsidization of Airbus
products - plane after plane – is unsustainable and must stop
now."
Airbus holds that the ruling does not cover the A350, and that
funds received for the new plane's development and construction
will comply with WTO standards. Boeing takes a different view,
saying that the current ruling sets a distinct precedent for the
new airliner.
The The Aerospace Industries Association of America has also
weighed in on the debate, saying it supports the Office of the U.S.
Trade Representative request for consultations on the December 1
European Union compliance report on eliminating aircraft subsidies
contrary to World Trade Organization rules. "This process should
result in the ending of non-compliant launch aid for aircraft
production—loans provided by European governments that
substantially reduce the business risk of introducing new-model
airplanes," AIA said in a statement.
"AIA is a long-standing defender of global, rules-based trade
and supports the WTO as an arbiter of international trade
disputes. The United States, Europe and many other countries
have an unquestioned reliance on trade to sustain growth and extend
the promise of innovation across borders and among industrial and
developing economies.
"At the end of the day, it is critical for WTO member countries
developing, or considering developing, civil aviation products to
operate according to free and fair trade principles for the health,
stability and growth of our industry."