Posted on 09/04/2009 2:18:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BRUSSELS (AFP) – The World Trade Organisation has judged European subsidies paid to Airbus illegal, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing a source "familiar with the matter".
But European sources who declined to be named told AFP that the interim ruling released by the WTO indicated that the US complaint was only partially upheld.
The Journal reported from Brussels that the WTO concluded that every launch-aid package given to Airbus for the development of its A380 double-decker long-range airliner was an illegal subsidy.
The conclusion was contained in a report of around 1,000 pages, with hard copies only going to EU governments and the US government, the business newspaper said on its website.
A European source confirmed to AFP in Brussels that "some elements" of the original US complaint to the WTO on the matter were upheld by the Geneva-based global trade body.
But, rebutting part of the Journal report, the source added that funds extended to Airbus for the A380 "were not considered illegal in their totality".
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
An Airbus A380 super jumbo jet. The World Trade Organisation has judged European subsidies paid to plane maker Airbus illegal, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing a source close to the matter in Brussels. (AFP/File/Lionel Bonaventure)
And there are a lot more such illegal subsidies around the world being utilized by some of our “free trade” partners.
Thanks!
They should be whooping it up in Washington about now!
I’m sure a bunch are but even though the tanker deal is mentioned and that the Pentagon should take it into account I doubt it will.
We have to grab what little victories we can these days.
The tanker deal. uggh. I hear ya.
Since Airbus is so intertwined with various European governments, it will be near impossible to separate the subsidies from “payments” to them.
They will get subsidies, just not in an overt manner.
So right your are!!
Airbus is much a “national champion” of “Europe” (a concept still in the making). They will get the funding!
With the A-380 poised never to earn the money invested in it, the death of the A-340 (four engines in a world of two), the massive losses on the A400M (another project that will never see the black) and the need to catch up with the Boeing 787 (delayed but beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel)you can be sure that this is one company that will not be allowed to fall behind much less fail.
Besides, it is really a jobs program that happens to build airplanes on the side.
Like the tax cuts in WA Boeing get’s that some people call illegal. It’s all “tit for tat”. Nothing more, nothing less.
I think it’s not too bad to get a Airbus plant in mobile,AL payed buy european taxpayer.
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