US increases punitive taxes on Airbuses

European ministers, who meet on Monday 17 February in Brussels, could express a common position on the American surcharges on Airbus. PASCAL PAVANI / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

The United States announced on Friday, February 14, that it would raise the customs taxes imposed on Airbus aircraft imported from Europe to 15%. The measure comes into force on March 18.

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It is a 15 years old litigation. But it came to a close last October: the WTO, the World Trade Organization, authorized Washington to impose sanctions on European goods imported into the United States. a measure taken in retaliation for the European grants awarded to Airbus. Aid which, according to the WTO, has distorted competition to the detriment of Boeing.

For the past four months , the American administration has therefore imposed customs surcharges of $ 7.5 billion on 25% of European agricultural and industrial products and on 10% of Airbus aircraft. But from mid-March, this tax will increase to 15%.

" Instability for American Airlines "

Airbus reacted immediately. The aircraft manufacturer denounces a decision which, according to him, " creates more instability for the American airlines which miss aircraft ". They have ordered Airbuses which they will have to pay more for.

Against the backdrop of trade tensions between Washington and Brussels , the already taxed sectors like wine, cheese, coffee and olives are worried about an escalation on the part of the Americans. Spared for the moment, the automotive sector fears to be next on the list.

However, for Donald Trump, these taxes are a lever to negotiate the future transatlantic trade agreement.

Read also: Donald Trump relaunches the trade war between Airbus and Boeing

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