Airbus: US sanctions on its aircraft would have no legal basis

European planemaker Airbus spokesman Rainer Ohler said on Tuesday, the company saw no legal basis for the US’ move towards imposing trade sanctions on its aircraft and warned of deepening trade tensions, Reuters reports.

Key Quotes:

“The planemaker had taken measures to comply with the “relatively minor” outstanding requirements. U.S. talk of $11 billion worth of damage from EU subsidies to Airbus was excessive.”

“The amount is largely exaggerated and in any case will be defined by the WTO and not the U.S.” 

A WTO ruling last week against tax breaks for its U.S. rival Boeing should allow the EU to seek “even greater countermeasures.”

The ruling showed “no willingness at all on the Boeing side to comply and confirms they are clearly in contravention with WTO rules.”

“All this is leading to unnecessary trade tensions and shows the only reasonable solution in this long trade dispute is a settlement.”