Airbus has released details of a confidential WTO ruling that, it claims, “confirms that Boeing has received massive and illegal government subsidies for many decades, and that they have had a significant and ongoing negative effect on European industryâ€.
In a statement, Airbus said the final WTO report to be publicly released in a few weeks can be expected to say Boeing would not have been able to launch the 787 Dreamliner without illegal subsidies.
The WTO report will claim, according to Airbus, that Boeing has received at least $5 billion of US taxpayer dollars that has been determined illegal.
Airbus estimates at least $45 billion as a realistic figure based on identified lost sales to Airbus as a result from the subsidies.
Airbus said the effect of the subsidies is significantly larger than the face value of the subsidies in light of their particularly pervasive nature
“They have thoroughly distorted competition within the aviation industry, directly resulting in significant harm to the European aerospace industry, and the effect of these subsidies will continue in the future, putting Airbus at a significant disadvantage,†said Airbus.
Rainer Ohler, Airbus’ head of public affairs, said, “The myth that Boeing doesn’t receive government aid is over and we hope this sets the tone for balanced and productive negotiations going forward.â€
The WTO is currently reviewing an appeal by the EU and U.S. into a ruling in a related case that Airbus benefited from illegal EU subsidies.
