China News Service, Washington, March 6 (Reporter Chen Mengtong) The US Trade Representative’s Office issued a joint US-European statement on the 5th, stating that the US and the EU will suspend the implementation of retaliatory tariffs related to large civil aircraft subsidies disputes for 4 months and are committed to adopting Negotiate to reach a comprehensive and lasting dispute settlement plan.

  The statement said that the suspended tariffs cover all tariffs on aircraft and non-aircraft products and will take effect after the internal procedures of both parties are completed.

This will enable both parties to reduce the burden on their respective industries and workers and concentrate on resolving these long-standing disputes within the framework of the WTO.

  The statement said, "These measures show that the two sides are determined to open a new starting point for bilateral relations."

  A day ago, the United States and the United Kingdom issued similarly worded statements announcing that the United States will suspend the implementation of retaliatory tariffs related to the Airbus subsidy dispute for four months from March 4.

  The aviation subsidy disputes between the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union can be traced back to 2004.

The WTO has successively ruled that both the United States and European countries have provided illegal subsidies to their respective aviation companies.

In October 2019, the World Trade Organization authorized the United States to impose additional tariffs and other retaliatory measures against approximately US$7.5 billion of EU goods and services exported to the United States each year.

In October 2020, the WTO authorized the EU to impose tariffs on goods and services from the United States not exceeding US$3.99 billion each year.

  On the 5th, US President Biden had a telephone conversation with European Commission President von der Lein, and the two sides reached an agreement on the suspension of the implementation of the aforementioned retaliatory tariffs.

  The White House statement stated that Biden emphasized US support for the European Union and his commitment to repair and boost the US-Europe partnership during the call.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in curbing the new crown epidemic, strengthening global health security, promoting the sustainable recovery of the global economy, and coping with the climate crisis, and agreed to coordinate on regional issues of mutual concern.

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