Airbus to Boeing: You’ve done us a lot of harm
Airbus has reacted swiftly to the World Trade Organisation’s condemnation of subsidies provided to Boeing by the United States.
Under a media release entitled Truth Goes Public, Airbus reported that the WTO had found Boeing received “at least $5.3 billion†in “pervasive†and “distortive†subsidies causing $45 billion in harm
â€This follows years of unfounded accusations and attempts to demonise Airbus, especially during the protracted campaign to win the US Air Force contract for Tanker aircraft.
“Finally the truth emerges. Boeing has received and continues to receive subsidies which have a significantly greater distortive effect than the Reimbursable Loans to Airbus, “ said Rainer Ohler, Airbus’ public affairs head.
“Taking the cases together, the WTO has now specifically green-lighted the continued use of government loans in Europe and ordered Boeing to end its illegal cash support from US taxpayers.
“It’s time for Boeing to stop denying or minimizing the massive illegal subsidies it getsâ€.
Ohler said Boeing had “shot themselves in the foot†with the WTO proceedings.
“The company has achieved a massive condemnation of its U.S. funding mechanisms – provided the U.S. is willing to implement the ruling – while the European mechanism has been approved as a legal instrument.
“The only result of this anachronistic battle is that it limits America’s and Europe’s ability to compete with emerging competitors that have access to unlimited government funding.â€
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