WTO finds Boeing got billions in illegal subsidies

seattlepi ^ | Monday, January 31, 2011 | AUBREY COHEN

[buzzer]

WTO finds Boeing got billions in illegal subsidies, but how many billions?

Boeing received billions of dollars in illegal subsidies, a World Trade Organization panel determined in a ruling released to the parties Monday.

But the two sides offered vastly different accounts of the ruling, which will remain confidential for several more weeks, until the WTO releases official translations.

Airbus said the subsidies amount to at least $5 billion, plus $2 billion more pledged for the future, and cost Airbus at least $45 billion in lost sales -- much more than the impact of illegal subsidies a separate panel found that European nations gave to the European plane maker.

"From today, Boeing can no longer pretend that it doesn't benefit from generous and illegal state subsidies. It has been doing so from the start and it's time to stop the denial," Rainer Ohler, Airbus' head of Public Affairs and Communications, said in a news release. "We expect the WTO dispute to carry on for several more years and as in all trade conflicts, a resolution will only be reached through negotiations. 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."

[buzzer]

... do we need the WTO stuff in the proposals for KC-X now or don't we ?!?!?

[Hans]

WTO. Preposterous people, even more preposterous accusations against the US.

[WNCer2010]

I’ve been chucking at the “Support Boeing, Airbus is state subsidized” fanatics for years. Boeing has been sucking at the corporate welfare teet for decades.

[warchild9]

...and their suits stuffed their offshore banking accounts with further tens/hundreds of millions.

And take it from someone who suffered in the management trenches, when ObamaCare was being passed, this level of bribery was child’s play compared to what BigPharma handed out to both sides of the Congressional aisle.

I tell ya’s: suits will rape their own grandmothers for bonuses.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Boeing makes better planes than Airbus, anyhow.

Only American companies should be allowed to bid for military contracts in any event.

[wolf78]

This whole affair is unbelievably stupid and could have been sorted out years ago when the EU suggested a comprehensive treaty on aerospace subsidies. But Boeing thought they could get away with their subsidies and pressured Washington to get the WTO involved. Remember: It was the US that sued first, then the EU counter-sued. So is really anyone surprised that both pot and kettle have been found black?

Should subsidies be abolished on both sides? Yes. Is it possible to do this 100%? Probably not, with all the public R&D and military spending involved. But it is a heck of a lot smarter to have a strict framework than a decade-long shouting match before the WTO.

[trumandogz]

“I’ve been chucking at the “Support Boeing, Airbus is state subsidized” fanatics for years. Boeing has been sucking at the corporate welfare teet for decades.”

Right on Target.

[ReverendJames]

"Boeing said Monday that the World Trade Organization had issued a "sweeping rejection" of European Union claims it had received illegal subsidies.

Responding after a WTO dispute settlement panel released its confidential final ruling to the US and EU governments, Boeing said the report marked a victory in its seven-year battle with Europe's Airbus over subsidies.

More at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.63915f25e77f1eaeb3bcab7050055096.2e1&show_article=1

[Yo-Yo]

Trade Rulings Could Impact Air Force Tanker Competition

Author:Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D.
Date:Monday, January 31, 2011

World Trade Organization today released a final ruling on commercial transport subsidies received by Boeing. The ruling will remain confidential until translated into variety of languages, so only the parties to the case brought by European governments have seen it. However, the ruling probably confirms a preliminary finding last year that Boeing received only a few billion dollars in improper subsidies over a period of several decades -- a small fraction of the amount European countries had alleged. That finding is in marked contrast to another WTO ruling last year finding that Airbus has received at least $20 billion in illegal or actionable subsidies. Another contrast is that Boeing has substantially ceased receiving prohibited subsidies, while Airbus continues to actively pursue them. I have posted an analysis at Forbes.com today exploring the potential impact of WTO rulings on the Air Force's current tanker competition. It is not a pretty picture. You can find the Forbes analysis here.

Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D.

[tallyhoe]

Oh Really? What support does Airbus get? The only thing Boeing gets is tax credits?

[Wuli]

ping

[Mr. Lucky]

So the US shouldn’t be allowed to use Rolls Royce aircraft engines?

[WNCer2010]

Sweetheart deals from the Fed Gov, subsidies to many of their subsidiaries through foreign governments (Many Boeing parts are made overseas, subsidized by host countries). Oh, and tax credits are corporate welfare too. Do some research.

[Gay State Conservative]

Once again,Europe makes money in the only way they can...by suing successful US companies.Boeing...Microsoft...Apple...you name it,they sue them.

[Don Corleone]

“If it ain’t Boeing I ain’t going.”

[bwc2221]

“Oh Really? What support does Airbus get? The only thing Boeing gets is tax credits?”

What about bogus boondoggles like the “virtual fence?”

[antiRepublicrat]

Is this real subsidies, or them calling military contracts subsidies?

[Emperor Palpatine]

And just what’s wrong with Pratt and Whitney or GE?

[Mr. Lucky]

They don’t hold Rolls Royce patents.

[buzzer]

“Only American companies should be allowed to bid for military contracts in any event.”

Which of both global players and their products you think can be called “american” ?!?
The italian and japanese built, russian designed and US assembled Boeing KC-767. Or the german designed, french and spain built US assembled KC-45 ?!?!

Have a look onto who owns Boeing and who owns EADS. IT’S AL THE SAME: COMAPNIES OWNING COMPANIES THAT ARE OWNED BY OTHER COMPANIES, WHICH ARE OWNED BY OTHER COMPANIES THAT SOMETIMES ARE THE SAME COMPANIES THAT ANOTHER COMPANY IS OWNED BY THE COMPANY IT SELF.