The new Airbus boss Guillaume Faury warns of the effects of the trade war on aviation. „We have some clouds ahead of us,“ said the reigning Frenchman since April in a conversation with „World“ (Tuesday edition). These included the consequences of an unregulated Brexit and the trade war between the US and China.
Above all, short-term threatening US tariffs on Airbus aircraft caused concern over the dispute over the World Trade Organization (WTO). „We are in a situation where things can change very quickly,“ says Faury. For 15 years, Europe and the US have been arguing over the legality of state aid to their aircraft manufacturers.
During the tenure of US President Donald Trump, the first WTO arbitration award is now pending. The US has already promised special tariffs of up to 100 percent. After the WTO arbitration, the final fine duty list of the USA is expected.
Warning about longer-term Brexit episodes
According to Faurys statement threatens a scenario in which high tariffs could burden the purchase of Airbus aircraft. Like its predecessor, Thomas Enders, Faury also warned about the longer-term Brexit episodes after Airbus buys the wings of almost every model in the UK. In the short term, no plants could be relocated, but investments for the next programs „could be done in a different way if the location for business in the UK is no longer the right one.“
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström soon expects US tariffs on EU products due to the dispute over subsidies for Airbus. Since Trump likes deals, he was offered to negotiate a solution, Malmström said. „So far, the US has not said they’re ready to bargain, at least not until they’ve introduced their tariffs, which they’re likely to do soon.“
