They save each other billions of dollars in criminal duties and improve trade relations
The United States and the European Union have resolved a 17-year trade dispute over subsidies for Boeing and Airbus, saving billions of dollars in punitive duties and boosting transatlantic relations, the Financial Times reported. Diplomats and officials confirmed Monday night that after two days of intensive talks in Brussels, the EU and the White House administration have reached a preliminary agreement on the rules for subsidizing the two air giants.
The finalization is scheduled for the first US-EU summit in the Belgian capital on Tuesday. “I am very pleased that we have been able to find a solution to the Boeing-Airbus problem in talks with our American friends,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Layen said Tuesday morning ahead of talks with US President Joe Biden.
The agreement provides
5-year contract for
elimination of criminal duties,
which will be combined with a working group and a ministerial dialogue on the abolition of subsidies, say those familiar with the negotiations. The goal is to eliminate friction between the countries once and for all, including for new aircraft models.
The breakthrough is dispelling a cloud of uncertainty over the aviation sector, as well as the danger of large groups of products – from French wine to American bourbon – being hit again with punitive tariffs over the unresolved conflict. This was indeed one of the longest disputes in the history of the World Trade Organization, according to world agencies. Things deepened especially during the time of Donald Trump, when in 2019 the United States imposed $ 7.5 billion in additional tariffs on European goods, and Europe responded with punitive tariffs of 4 billion. Officially, the new agreement for air carriers will enter into force on 11 July.
According to Bloomberg, at the EU-US summit, an agreement should be reached to abolish tariffs on steel and aluminum, introduced by Washington in 2018 “for reasons of national security.” As EU officials point out, the exact timing of the abolition of tariffs is not yet known, but countries are likely to be ready to implement the initiative by the end of this year.
“America is back. It is in the interest of the United States to have good relations with NATO and the EU, “Biden said at the beginning of his dialogue with the head of the European Commission and European Council President Charles Michel. “You have returned to Brussels and America has returned to the world stage. This is great news, “said Michelle. “The world has changed dramatically in the last four years. Europe has changed. We want to reassure you, you are our friends and allies, “added von der Leyen. With his European hosts, Biden wanted to discuss his upcoming meeting with Russian President Putin on Wednesday.
Earlier, the owner of the White House visited the Royal Palace in Brussels, where he met with King Philip of Belgium and Prime Minister Alexander de Croix. The three were wearing masks, but took them off for the joint photo.
Sitting at the oval table with EU leaders, the American guest said that EU-US cooperation is the best way to meet today’s challenges such as the pandemic, China’s growing power, and climate change, which are a cause for great concern.
Global health security, economic recovery, deepening cooperation in digital technologies, strengthening democratic processes and the fight against corruption were also among the topics of the EU-US meeting. Another long-awaited news from her was the creation of
common transatlantic
Trade and Technology Council,
to limit China’s influence. The goal of the two countries is to “work together to write the rules for the new generation, especially in the field of economics and new technologies.”
The focus will be on artificial intelligence, quantum computers, biotechnology, the sustainability of supply chains. Another task of the US-EU Joint Trade and Technology Council is to monitor compliance with the rules from online platforms, as well as to try to restrain the all-powerful Big Tech companies.
Kremlin shortens Putin’s US media interview, removes “I don’t care about Navalny”
Four days after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an interview to US television NBC, the media published the full text of the conversation. The Kremlin has done the same, but with significant changes to both the questions of journalist Keir Simmons and the answers of the head of state.
The main changes are in the issues of media freedom and the most famous critic of the Kremlin, Alexei Navalny.
The journalist initially named the oppositionist in his question as to whether there were any guarantees that he would leave prison alive. He did not receive a direct response from Putin, who never mentioned Navalny’s name, and noted that “people will note that you were not ready to say he would be released from prison.” In the original, the presenter was interrupted by Putin, who said, “Oh, I don’t care.” Then he continues: “Listen to me carefully. Whatever his name is. He is one of the people in prison. ” The hint that Putin is not interested in Navalny’s fate or what people will “say” is not present in the Kremlin’s version.
In addition, it corrects the question: “Literally every member of the non-systemic opposition faces criminal charges. Medusa and VTimes have been labeled “foreign agent” and are on the verge of extinction. Mr. President, as if disagreement is simply no longer tolerated in Russia? ”
In the version circulated by the Russian presidency, it already reads: “And the entire non-systemic opposition is now facing criminal charges, as well as journalists, many are being given the status of foreign agents and this is creating a serious breakdown in their work.”
In Russia, there are also complaints to NBC about the translation of expressions literally and without context. For example, “You Can Complain to the International League for Sexual Minorities” – a phrase by Ostap Bender from the novel The Golden Calf, with which Putin wanted to end the conversation about the accusations of cyberattacks against Russia. Such an organization does not really exist.
Putin’s interview was published days before the first summit between Russian and American leaders Joe Biden. “It is unlikely that there will be concrete results from the talks between the two presidents – the first since Biden entered the White House, but they will be useful,” Putin’s foreign policy adviser Dmitry Ushakov said on the occasion of the Geneva meeting.
According to him, nuclear security, climate change, cybersecurity and the fate of prisoners in one country in the other will be the focus of the dialogue. However, “all topics” that concern Moscow and Washington will be discussed.
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