Airbus “deeply regrets” US decision to hike import tariffs on new planes

The United States is increasing tariffs on Airbus planes imported from Europe to 15 per cent ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The retaliatory tariffs on EU and UK products are part of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute over subsidies to Airbus. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Duties had been at 10 per cent since October,  the additional duty rate imposed on aircraft imported from the EU will become effective from March 18. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Airbus has said it “deeply regrets” the United States Trade Representative (USTR) decision to increase tariffs. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

An Airbus spokesperson said: “USTR’s decision to impose tariffs further escalate trade tensions between the US and the EU, thereby creating more instability for US airlines that are already suffering from a shortage of aircraft.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

USTR’s decision ignores the many submissions made by US airlines, highlighting the fact that they – and the US flying public – will ultimately have to pay these tariffs. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The planemaker said the move further “complicates efforts to find a negotiated outcome to this dispute. This is regrettable.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Airbus will continue its discussions with its US customers and work with them to mitigate the effects of tariffs insofar as possible.
“Airbus has and will continue to push for a negotiated settlement to this 15-year-long dispute.” A spokesperson added.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Airbus hopes that USTR’s position will change when the WTO authorises the European Union to impose tariffs on Boeing aircraft, including the 737Max, 787 and 777 aircraft later this year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The UK government responded by saying it was “deeply disappointed” by the continuation of the retaliatory tariffs “which harm UK and US industries.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The additional tariffs on aircraft announced by United States Trade Representative are not in the interests of the UK or the US, and I have made this point directly to my counterpart in Washington. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

We call on the US to engage in detailed discussions at pace to reach a negotiated settlement, before tariffs are authorised and imposed on the US in relation to the ongoing Boeing dispute.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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