The European Union and the United States have agreed to suspend customs duties due to a dispute between Boeing and Airbus

Brussels, March 5 (EFE). – The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, agreed on Friday to suspend customs duties that were applied mutually due to disputes. Over Boeing and Airbus, which have retained in the World Trade Organization, during a phone call between the two leaders.

“As a symbol of this new beginning, President Biden and I have agreed to suspend all of our duties imposed in the context of the dispute between Airbus and Boeing, on both aircraft and non-aircraft products, for an initial period of four months.” German policy said in a statement.

He added that the two sides pledged to focus on resolving the dispute over Airbus and Boeing based on the work of their respective trade policy makers.

“This is excellent news for companies and industries on both sides of the Atlantic and a very positive sign for our economic cooperation in the coming years,” said von der Leyen.

The fee suspension will be in effect once the parties have completed the necessary internal procedures.

The European Union and the United States had imposed retaliatory tariffs on each other in the long-running dispute settled by the World Trade Organization over the granting of subsidies, respectively, to the European airline Airbus and Boeing of the United States.

On the phone call, the leaders also talked about the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines.

The former German minister said, at a time when the United States is winning the race to vaccinate its population in front of the community club.

The President of the European Commission has invited Biden to the World Health Summit to be held in Rome on May 21.

In addition, the two politicians discussed cooperation in combating climate change and von der Leyen thanked the US President for his country’s return to the Paris Climate Agreement.

He pointed out that “we have agreed to participate in the matter before COP26 in Glasgow this year,” announcing that the US special envoy for climate, John Kerry, will participate in the next weekly meeting of European commissioners.

He also thanked the Chairperson of the Commission, Biden, for his invitation to participate in the climate change summit held by the United States this year.

With regard to the economic relationship, Brussels today proposed to Washington a “new partnership rooted in our shared values ​​and principles”, as well as the creation of a ministerial-level Trade and Technology Council to address “innovation challenges.”

“I see this as a key forum for building our transatlantic alliance on technology,” he stressed.

With regard to foreign policy, they agreed to “intensify” cooperation and “support democracy, stability and prosperity in the context of a rapidly developing international environment,” and Brussels stated that this would be done “in close cooperation with NATO.”

“We share a strategic view on Russia. I have suggested that we closely coordinate our policies and actions regarding Eastern Europe in particular. We share our views on the situation in Ukraine,” the European Commission president said.

Von der Leyen described today’s phone conversation as “the first of many exchanges and the beginning of a good personal relationship” with Biden. EFE

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