EU suggests tariffs on $20bn worth of US imports in Boeing row
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Wednesday 17 Apr 2019
(Sharecast News) - The European Commission published a list on Wednesday of $20bn worth of US imports that could be hit with tariffs in response to US subsidies to aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
The list covers a range of items from aircrafts to chemicals and agri-food products, including everything from frozen fish and citrus fruits to ketchup.
EU trade commission Cecilia Malmström said: "European companies must be able to compete on fair and equal terms. The recent WTO ruling on US subsidies for Boeing is important in this respect. We must continue to defend a level-playing field for our industry.
"But let me be clear, we do not want a tit-for-tat. While we need to be ready with countermeasures in case there is no other way out, I still believe that dialogue is what should prevail between important partners such as the EU and the US, including in bringing an end to this long-standing dispute. The EU remains open for discussions with the US, provided these are without preconditions and aim at a fair outcome."
The move from the EU comes after the US said it was considering slapping tariffs on around $11.5bn worth of EU goods over subsidies to Airbus.
Earlier this month, the World Trade Organization confirmed that US subsidies to Boeing continue to cause significant harm to Airbus, including lost sales.
Following a dispute spanning almost 15 years, both sides are now asking a WTO arbitrator to determine what level of countermeasures they can impose on one another. However, both the EU and the US have expressed a preference for a settlement that does not lead to tariffs.
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