WTO says EU can slap tariffs on $4 bn in US goods over Boeing aid
By Nina Larson
GENEVA – The World Trade Organization (WTO) Tuesday (13) authorized the EU to impose steep retaliatory tariffs over US aid for Boeing, a year after permitting Washington to sanction Brussels for its support of Airbus.
In the latest development in the 16-year saga between Washington and Brussels over support for their aircraft manufacturers, the EU received the green light to impose $3.99 billion in tariffs on US goods and services.
The WTO determined that that amount was “commensurate with the degree and nature of the adverse effects determined to exist” from US support for Boeing considered to be in violation of international trade rules, according to the 121-page arbitrator’s report.
According to a list of targets seen by AFP, the European Union is expected to impose tariffs on aircraft made in the United States, along with tractors, sweet potatoes, peanuts, frozen orange juice, tobacco, ketchup and Pacific salmon.
The EU and the United States accuse each other of having provided illegal state aid to their respective aircraft manufacturers, and both brought claims before the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).
Following Tuesday’s decision, the EU must request permission from the DSB to apply the decision – something it could do at the body’s next meeting on October 26, a week before the US presidential election.
Last year, the WTO authorized a record $7.5 billion in US sanctions against European goods and services over the bloc’s assistance to Airbus, also considered improper under international trade regulations.
Washington then imposed punitive tariffs of 25% on EU products such as wine, cheese and olive oil. The 10% tariff on Airbus planes was hiked to 15% in March.
While several EU leaders have been calling for imposing the tariffs immediately if Washington does not agree to drop its levies, few expect it to do so.
One industry source however expects the WTO ruling to “open the door for negotiations”.
Given the crisis the airline industry now finds itself in and the effect that is having on Airbus and Boeing, a long drawn-out battle in which tariffs raise the prices of aircraft does not serve the interests of either the EU or the United States.
After the ruling the EU quickly called for negotiated settlement.
“I have made it clear that my strong preference is for a negotiated settlement with the US, avoiding harmful rounds of measures and countermeasures,” EU executive vice president Valdis Dombrovskis said.
Airbus echoed that call.
“It is time to find a solution now so that tariffs can be removed on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.
-Agence France-Presse