10.06.04

Cantwell's Statement on Zoellick's Announcement to File Complaint With WTO on Airbus's EU Subsidies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement this morning in response to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick's announcement that the U.S. will begin the process of filing a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization against the European Union for providing unfair trade subsidies to Airbus, Boeing's principal European competitor.

“Boeing has always built the best plane in the market,” Cantwell said. “But EU launch aid subsidies have allowed Airbus to finance a cheaper plane thanks to the European governments' deep pockets. Consumers win when there is true competition, not direct government financing.”