suspension of retaliatory tariffs

U.S. and EU issue joint statement suspending for four months retaliatory tariffs from large civil aircraft WTO disputes (Airbus-Boeing)

· March 5, 2021 · Airbus-Boeing large civil aircraft disputes · , , , , , · No Comments

Yesterday, the U.S. and United Kingdom announced a four month suspension of retaliatory tariffs from the Airbus-Boeing WTO disputes to provide time to seek a negotiated solution. As noted in my post on the development, it was expected that a similar agreement would be reached with the EU. See March 4, 2021, First step in resolving the Airbus-Boeing WTO dispute — U.K. and U.S. announce four month suspension of retaliatory tariffs effective March 4, 2021, https://currentthoughtsontrade.com/2021/03/04/first-step-in-resolving-the-airbus-boeing-wto-dispute-u-k-and-u-s-announce-four-month-suspension-of-retaliatory-tariffs-effective-march-4-2021/

Today a joint statement was released by the U.S. and the European Union on a similar four-month suspension of retaliatory tariffs. See USTR, Joint Statement of the European Union and the United States on the Large Civil Aircraft WTO Disputes, March 5, 2021, https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2021/march/joint-statement-european-union-and-united-states-large-civil-aircraft-wto-disputes. The text of the joint statement is copied below.

“’The European Union and the United States today agreed on the mutual suspension for four months of the tariffs related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Aircraft disputes. The suspension will cover all tariffs both on aircraft as well as on non-aircraft products, and will become effective as soon as the internal procedures on both sides are completed. 

“’This will allow the EU and the US to ease the burden on their industries and workers and focus efforts towards resolving these long running disputes at the WTO.

“’The EU and the US are committed to reach a comprehensive and durable negotiated solution to the Aircraft disputes. Key elements of a negotiated solution will include disciplines on future support in this sector, outstanding support measures, monitoring and enforcement, and addressing the trade distortive practices of and challenges posed by new entrants to the sector from non-market economies, such as China.

“’These steps signal the determination of both sides to embark on a fresh start in the relationship.’”

The agreement to suspend the retaliatory tariffs for four months was the result of a phone call between President Biden and EC President von der Leyen.

The White House has the following readout of the phone call:

“Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

“MARCH 05, 2021 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

“President Joseph R. Biden spoke today with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He underscored his support for the European Union and his commitment to repair and revitalize the U.S.-EU partnership. Noting our shared values and the world’s largest trade and investment relationship, the leaders agreed to suspend the tariffs related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Aircraft disputes for four months and to work toward resolving these long running disputes at the WTO.  They discussed the importance of close U.S.-EU cooperation to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and enhance global health security, pursue a sustainable global economic recovery, tackle the climate crisis, and strengthen democracy.  The leaders also agreed to coordinate on issues of shared interest, including China, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/05/readout-of-president-joseph-r-biden-jr-call-with-european-commission-president-ursula-von-der-leyen/.

The European Commission President von der Leyen issued a press release after her conversation with President Biden. See European Commission, Statement by President von der Leyen following her phone call with President of the United States Joe Biden, March 5, 2021, The press release is embedded below but the relevant paragraphs on the suspension of tariffs are copied below before the full press release.

“As a symbol of this fresh start, President Biden and I agreed to suspend all our tariffs imposed in the context of the Airbus-Boeing disputes, both on aircraft and non-aircraft products, for an initial period of 4 months. We both committed to focus on resolving our aircraft disputes, based on the work our respective trade representatives. This is excellent news for businesses and industries on both sides of the Atlantic, and a very positive signal for our economic cooperation in the years to come.”

Statement_by_President_von_der_Leyen_following_her_phone_call_with_President_of_the_United_States_Joe_Biden

EC Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in a tweet indicated the suspension had been agreed and stated that “This is a major breakthrough that provides a welcome boost to EU exporters & it gives both sides time & space to resolve this long-running dispute.” https://twitter.com/VDombrovskis/status/1367888145505783810. See also Financial Times, EU and US agree to suspend tariffs in Airbus-Boeing dispute, March 5, 2021, https://www.ft.com/content/3da1759f-894e-4c1d-813f-5012d96bf52b.

While the development was not unexpected in light of yesterday’s announcement, it is a further sign of the major effort of the Biden Administration to work with our allies such as the European Union and is another manifestation of the Biden Administration’s embrace of multilateral solutions and working with allies.

First step in resolving the Airbus-Boeing WTO dispute — U.K. and U.S. announce four month suspension of retaliatory tariffs effective March 4, 2021

· March 4, 2021 · Airbus-Boeing large civil aircraft disputes · , , , · No Comments

For the U.S., EU and U.K., finding a path to resolving the long-running dispute on civil aircraft subsidies is a major priority. Both the U.S. and the EU have been authorized to retaliate by the WTO in recent years. Some efforts at finding a resolution were pursued during the Trump Administration. The Biden Administration has made it clear that it wants to find ways to work with our allies and resolving the underlying civil aircraft dispute has been a topic covered by President Biden’s USTR nominee Katherine Tai in her confirmation hearing. See March 2, 2021, Katherine Tai, USTR designate, on addressing WTO reform including dispute settlement if confirmed; the USTR 2021 Trade Policy Agenda, https://currentthoughtsontrade.com/2021/03/02/katherine-tai-ustr-designate-on-addressing-wto-reform-including-dispute-settlement-if-confirmed-the-ustr-2021-trade-policy-agenda/.

Today the U.S. and the United Kingdom released a joint statement following agreement to suspend retaliatory tariffs for four months from March 4, 2021 to provide space for seeking a negotiated solution. The U.K. had suspended retaliatory tariffs since January 1st. See USTR, Joint US-UK Statement on Suspension of Large Civilian Aircraft Tariffs, March 4, 2021, https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2021/march/joint-us-uk-statement-suspension-large-civilian-aircraft-tariffs. The joint statement is embedded below.

US-UK-4-month-tariff-suspension-to-ease-the-burden-on-industry-while-seek-resolution-of-Airbus-Boeing-disputes

The announcement does not include the EU as a party, but it is expected that the EU will join such action since they are the major European party and face the largest amount of retaliation. In early December 2020, during the last months of the Trump Administration, EC Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis had indicated the EU would suspend retaliatory tariffs if the U.S. did as well. See Bloomberg, EU Says Boeing-Airbus Dispute Can Be Settled Under Trump, December 3, 2020, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-03/eu-says-boeing-airbus-dispute-can-be-settled-under-trump (“EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said ‘it’s possible’ that both sides will reach an agreement by Jan. 20 governing aid to Boeing Co. and Airbus SE. He reiterated an offer to remove EU retaliatory tariffs on $4 billion of American goods if the U.S. does the same for its duties on $7.5 billion of European products. ‘The solution which would be preferred by the EU would be that both sides withdraw or at least suspend their tariffs and we reach agreement on future disciplines in the area of civil aviation,’ Dombrovskis said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Thursday. ‘We are still intensively engaged with the current U.S. administration.'”).

The U.S. goal is certainly to find a solution that works for the Boeing Company and that permits the U.S., EU and U.K. to turn their attention to the challenges in the civil aircraft industry by major new entrants like China. Today’s action with the U.K. is the first step in the Biden Administration’s efforts to get this dispute resolved.