Airbus: WTO Subsidy Dispute Could Raise Plane, Ticket Prices
03 June 2019 - 10:57AM
Dow Jones News
Robert Wall
SEOUL--Airbus SE (AIR.FR) is warning airlines the cost of planes
could rise from an escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and
Europe over commercial subsidies.
The U.S. has this year drawn up a list worth $11 billion in
tariffs, including on plane components, after the World Trade
Organization ruled the European Union didn't eliminate illegal
subsidies provided to Airbus. The EU has drawn up its own list in a
countercase in which the WTO determined subsidies benefiting Boeing
Co. (BA) also haven't been full rescinded.
The actions are the latest round in a trade subsidy dispute that
dates back to 2004.
Airbus in recent days has been increasingly vocal about the
threat those actions could pose to airlines. Ahead of a meeting of
carriers in Seoul this weekend, the European plane maker, in a
letter, said "if tariffs are applied, the effects would include
greatly increased costs to U.S. and European airlines, aerospace
suppliers and manufacturers." And, it added, "time is running
out."
The Sunday at the International Air Transport Association
meeting, Airbus's chief plane salesman Christian Scherer reinforced
that message. Mr. Scherer said the U.S. threat to impose tariffs
would likely trigger retaliation by the EU, harming airlines on
both sides of the Atlantic and leading to higher costs for
passengers. He also said that day that U.S. action could "have
ripple effects with global dimensions."
Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) Chief Executive Ed Bastian on
Saturday said such tariffs would be a concern if they increase the
price of planes.
Mr. Scherer told reporters Sunday that the demand for new planes
was generally healthy, but trade tensions were a dark cloud on the
horizon. Concerns about trade issues, including the escalating
trade row between the U.S. and China, could put off airlines from
buying planes, he said.
Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 02, 2019 20:42 ET (00:42 GMT)
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