WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA) issued the following joint statement regarding the report issued by the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization today confirming that, over the last four decades, the European Union has granted substantial illegal subsidies to Airbus. The finding is a significant win for the workers and businesses in the U.S. aerospace industry:
“We applaud today’s Appellate Body findings in favor of the United States in the Airbus dispute. The Appellate Body has confirmed that for decades Airbus has been playing on a playing field heavily tilted in its favor because of substantial, illegal subsidies provided by the European Union. The European Union must now cease providing these subsidies or eliminate their substantial adverse effects. This is an important victory for U.S. workers and businesses in the aerospace industry that have, for years, had to compete on unfair terms. And it is an important victory for USTR in its efforts to ensure that our trading partners live up to their international commitments."
