Murray’s Statement on WTO’s Final Ruling on Illegal Airbus Subsidies

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) final ruling that launch aid to Airbus is an illegal subsidy. In 2005, Senator Murray led efforts to initiate a WTO case against the EU and Airbus.



“Today’s final ruling puts any doubts to rest – launch aid is an illegal subsidy that has cost American jobs, hurt our ability to compete, and damaged our overall economy.



“Enough is enough. For too long, workers in Washington state have had to fight an uphill battle. Instead of competing just with Airbus, they’ve been forced to compete with the deep pockets of European governments that supply Airbus with illegal launch aid. It’s time to even the playing field.



“Growing up in Bothell, Washington, I watched as our state and economy grew up around Boeing jobs and the airplane business.   America’s aerospace industry supports millions of jobs across the country – jobs that need to stay right here at home.   That’s why I encouraged the Bush Administration to file this case with the WTO.  And that’s why I’ll be working to make sure we see this ruling through.



“I will be urging the United States Trade Representative to take every legal action to ensure this ruling results in a free and fair international marketplace. Airbus has made clear that they’ll go to any lengths to hurt our country’s aerospace industry. We need to make clear that we will take every action to stop them.



“This ruling also comes at a critical time in the effort to supply our men and women in uniform with the next generation of aerial refueling tankers. It’s clear that the A330, the very plane Airbus would offer our military, has received illegal subsidies that have hurt American workers.  Now’s not the time to delay this competition further. Especially not for a company that is undercutting our workers. It’s time to stop bending over backwards to meet the demands of an illegally subsidized foreign company and to move forward with providing America’s military with an American-made tanker.”