French President Emmanuel Macron suggested in a telephone conversation to his American counterpart Joe Biden that the two countries settle the old dispute between aeronautical giants Boeing and Airbus, according to financial news channel CNBC.
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The new White House tenant did not wish to make a firm commitment to the subject during this interview on January 24, simply suggesting that the relevant teams take up the matter, the outlet added on Wednesday, citing a close source. folder.
The reports of the discussion between the two heads of state, both on the French and the American side, do not mention that the subject was discussed.
Contacted by AFP, the White House, the Department of Commerce and the services of the High Representative for Trade (USTR) did not respond immediately.
Airbus and Boeing, and through them the European Union (EU) and the United States, have been clashing since October 2004 before the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the public aid paid to the two groups, deemed illegal, in the longest trade dispute dealt with by the justice of the peace of world trade.
The two companies each obtained rulings in their favor.
The United States was authorized at the end of 2019 to impose taxes on almost $ 7.5 billion of European goods and services imported each year.
The EU was authorized a year later to put in place taxes on products imported from the United States and since the beginning of November has imposed $ 4 billion in US exports.
New US taxes
At the end of December, three weeks before the end of its mandate, the Trump administration announced additional tariffs on French and German products, non-sparkling wines and cognacs, and aircraft parts hitherto spared.
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They were added to those already imposed since 2019 on European imports such as wine, cheese, olive oil or whiskey, as well as on Airbus planes.
When they entered into force on January 12, Brussels said it
“regretted”
this initiative and expressed the hope of settling the dispute after the new administration took office.
