WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today said the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) final decision found the European Union (EU) unfairly subsidized their aircraft industry, a victory for Kansas and the U.S. aviation industry.

 Senator Roberts made the following remarks:

 “This decision in itself is an important step in what has been a long and difficult challenge with the EU and our competing commercial aviation industries.

 “Every instance of launch aid provided by European countries over the past four decades was found to cause harm and distort the global market.

 “It confirms a long held view that the U.S. aviation industry was put at a competitive disadvantage and suffered economic harm due to the illegal subsidies.

 “I wholeheartedly disagree with the decision by the U.S. Air Force to completely ignore the WTO's decision in the final request for proposals in the procurement process for a new aerial refueling tanker. When one competitor faces an obvious advantage, it should be reflected in the competitive process, because disregarding it creates an unfair playing field. 

 “Remarkably, the airframe being competed, the A330, is identified specifically as one of the models that received unfair subsidies from various EU member governments.

 “Independent of the tanker competition, the significance of this decision to the commercial aviation world is monumental. The case is one of the longest and most complex in WTO history.

 “I’m hopeful that the WTO panel decision provides guidance moving forward. However, it appears that some EU countries are prepared to flaunt the WTO’s decision and again provide unfair launch aid for the A350 - the next generation of commercial aircraft.

 “I continue to support USTR’s efforts to pursue a level playing field in the commercial aviation market as well as in our own defense acquisition process.”

 Roberts made the remarks at a press conference where he was joined by a bipartisan group of members of Congress including U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and Norm Dicks (D-WA), and many others.

 Senator Roberts has long fought to replace the nation’s aging tanker fleet to give men and women in uniform the safest and best plane to complete their mission. Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction on trade matters.

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