12.09.11

Cantwell: Illegal Launch Aid Must Come to an End

Cantwell calls on EU to comply with international law and finally put a stop to launch aid and other illegal subsidies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement after U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced that the United States does not believe the European Union has complied with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) rulingrequiring European Union (EU) governments to end illegal subsidies to Airbus:

“It is time for the EU to stop playing games and fully comply with the WTO’s ruling. The WTO has been clear again and again that the billions of dollars in aircraft-specific launch aid Airbus received from EU nations is an illegal subsidy. Continuing these harmful practices is a blatant violation of the WTO’s ruling and the EU must end them. There should be no further debate – the ruling is clear.”

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