The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Oct. 2 backed a U.S. request to impose $7.5 billion in tariffs on European goods in response to charges that illegal subsidies were granted to planemaker Airbus by the European governments of Germany, Frances, Spain, and the U.K.
An initial list of products that would potentially be subject to tariffs was published by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in April, and a supplemental list released in July included some fertilizer products, including anhydrous ammonia, urea, UAN, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate.
The ruling is the largest arbitration award in WTO history, and represents a significant development in the 15-year long Airbus-Boeing battle. In response to the ruling, the EU threatened to retaliate to any U.S.-imposed tariffs. “If the U.S. decides to impose WTO authorized countermeasures, it will be pushing the EU into a situation where we will have no other option than do the same,” Brussels said in a statement.