Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

U.S. files WTO complaint against EU on subsidies to Airbus

WASHINGTON -- U.S. trade authorities said today they will file a complaint against the European Union to the World Trade Organization, contesting what they regard as billions of dollars in unfair subsidies provided to aircraft company Airbus by European governments.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced the action, saying that recent negotiations between the two sides failed to resolve the dispute.

"This is about fair competition and a level playing field," U.S trade representative Robert Zoellick said. "Since its creation 35 years ago, some have justified subsidies to Airbus as necessary to support an 'infant' industry. If that rationalization were ever valid its time has long passed. Airbus now sells more large civil aircraft than Boeing," he said.

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