WTO launches new panel over U.S. charge against EU aircraft subsidy

The World Trade Organization set up on Tuesday a fourth panel to look into the U.S.-EU aircraft subsidy dispute.

The panel was created for a fresh U.S. allegation that the European Union and its member countries have provided Airbus with launch aid and other financial assistance.

Brussels and Washington have been trading accusations for government subsidies to their respective aircraft makers -- Airbus in Europe and Boeing Co. of the United States.

The United States filed a complaint with the WTO in 2004 against aid to Airbus, while the EU counterattacked with similar measure targeting Boeing.

The WTO created two panels in July and added a third one in February over the spat.

The United States is complaining about a training budget announced by the government of Wales in January and other financial aid from EU countries to Airbus' A350 project -- a rival to Boeing's 787 passenger airliner.

Boeing's CEO Jim McNerney said on Wednesday that negotiations on the subsidies dispute were making progress.

"I am hopeful that (the dispute) will be negotiated and resolved," he said.

Source: Xinhua