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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| WTO 'rules EU plane aid illegal' | WTO 'rules EU plane aid illegal' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reportedly ruled that the European Union gave illegal subsidies to planemaker Airbus. | The World Trade Organization (WTO) has reportedly ruled that the European Union gave illegal subsidies to planemaker Airbus. |
| The Wall Street Journal and several news agencies reported the decision, which is officially confidential. | |
| But Reuters reported that an EU source said it was "wrong and misleading" to describe the ruling as a US victory. | |
| Both US and European diplomats have declined to release the ruling, which is over 1,000 pages long. | Both US and European diplomats have declined to release the ruling, which is over 1,000 pages long. |
| The trade dispute between the aircraft manufacturers, Boeing in the US and Airbus in Europe, is the biggest in the WTO's history. | The trade dispute between the aircraft manufacturers, Boeing in the US and Airbus in Europe, is the biggest in the WTO's history. |
| The ruling comes after five years of deliberations. The decision is not expected to be officially made public for at least several months. | The ruling comes after five years of deliberations. The decision is not expected to be officially made public for at least several months. |
| "The ruling is not a black-and-white case," an unnamed EU representative told Reuters. | |
| "It simply is not a great victory for the United States." | |
| The EU has also made a counter claim against the US for its support of Boeing. A ruling on the EU's claim against the US is due in the next six to eight months. | The EU has also made a counter claim against the US for its support of Boeing. A ruling on the EU's claim against the US is due in the next six to eight months. |
| 'Good case' | 'Good case' |
| Experts say the WTO's decision will set the boundaries for acceptable government funding in civil aviation. | Experts say the WTO's decision will set the boundaries for acceptable government funding in civil aviation. |
| But Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners, said there was still a long way to go in the saga. | But Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners, said there was still a long way to go in the saga. |
| "This whole WTO process is going to last four to five years. It's going to be 2013 at least before we get a final settlement on this," he said. | "This whole WTO process is going to last four to five years. It's going to be 2013 at least before we get a final settlement on this," he said. |
| He added that Boeing and Airbus have to find terms so that they can work together based on what the WTO actually rules. | He added that Boeing and Airbus have to find terms so that they can work together based on what the WTO actually rules. |
| Louis Gallois, the chief executive of Airbus's parent company EADS, said before the decision that he believes the company has a "very good case". | Louis Gallois, the chief executive of Airbus's parent company EADS, said before the decision that he believes the company has a "very good case". |