Fair and balanced approach to Airbus WTO ruling needed

IEA calls on US administrations to minimise impact on Irish exports

Dublin, 2 October 2019: The Irish Exporters Association (IEA), the voice of the exporting industry in Ireland, notes today’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling in the long-standing trade dispute over subsidies to the aircraft maker Airbus and calls on the US administration to minimise the impact of proposed tariff actions on Irish exports.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Simon McKeever, Chief Executive of the Irish Exporters Association, said: “We note with deep regret today’s ruling by the WTO to grant the United States the right to levy tariff on EU goods of up to USD7.5 billion in response to earlier subsidies given to the aircraft maker Airbus.

With a similar case against the US aircraft maker Boeing still to be decided by the WTO in the next couple of months, we urge the United States administration and, in particular, the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to engage with the European Union to seek a fair and balances approach forward. A tit-for-tat approach to damaging each other’s economies will not help anyone.

With the continued possibility of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October and the associated shock to Irish exporters, we are particularly concerned by US threats to place tariffs on important Irish exports such as Irish Whiskey or agricultural goods.”

Ends/

For Further information contact:

Pascal Koenig, Communications & Public Affairs Manager

E-mail: pascalkoenig@irishexporters.ie

Tel:  01 642 4171 / 086 142 3310

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