Bush Calls On Europeans To End Subsidy To Airbus

[Newsjock]

http://komotv.com/stories/32622.htm

SEATTLE - President Bush said Friday that European nations should end their subsidies of the plane manufacturer Airbus, saying the United States is prepared to take action before the World Trade Organization to stop them.

Bush made the comments after meeting with Alan Mulally, chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and about 30 Boeing employees at a company hangar at Boeing Field.

The president said that he has instructed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to inform European officials of the U.S. position at a meeting in September.

"We think these subsidies are unfair and that (Zoellick) should pursue all options to end these subsidies, including bringing a WTO case if need be," Bush told reporters after the Boeing meeting.

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[proud patriot]

1. What a Bully n/t

[onehandle]

2. Who cares what a lame duck President wants?

Crawford awaits!

[Newsjock]

3. What about that $100 million subsidy ...

... to lease all those Boeing tankers to the federal government, huh, Mr. President? Guess that didn't quite go according to your world plan either, huh scumbag, huh.

[rsmith6621]

4. Just think

Bush who has pissed off most of the world expects them to give a rats behind whether or not the rules of economic game are fair???

I think GWB has started back sucking that old Bong.

30 people at that event??????..I wonder how many were members of the shrinking middle class??....now that proves GWB is popular that is in his own mind.

[laconicsax]

7. 30 makes sense

It was as some guy's house in Medina, which is one of the wealthier neighborhoods in the Rethug stronghold of the Greater Eastside.

Add in that the local news was reporting that the RNC originally was going to pick up the cost of security, but decided to only pick up the cost of Bush's trip and lodging. The city has to pick up the cost of security for the event.

[secdiego]

10. Oh don't mention that, shrub

will just hide behind Mrs. Daschle's skirt and claim it was all her fault.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi secdiego!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[saigon68]

12. YOU ARE RIGHT

The Europeans don't build B-52s to Blast the children of Yellow, Black and Brown -- men and women to BITS

That's why their governments use their resources to improve transportation that way.

[Kellanved]

27. well

Neither does Airbus get any significant subsidies (they get loans, as per the 1992 treaty), nor is it a pacifist company.

Airbus' mother company makes everything: jets, transporters, AA-guns, smart bombs, helicopters,...

[AP]

23. Or the huge subsidies to the airline industry which then go to buying

airplanes (of course they go to buying Airbuses too, but I bet boeing gets a lot of money that recently came out of a US Treasury account).

[Arianrhod]

5. Hm.

What about the $15 billion he gave the airlines in 2001, only to have them pocket the money, lay off 22,000 employees, and file for bankruptcy?

Talk about unfair economics. . . .

[TroglodyteScholar]

14. That...

...didn't count. Okay? Now move on...get over it...etc.

[bacchant]

6. Europe to Bush: FUCK YOU, dumb-ass bitch!

Well that's what I'd say anyway.

[goforit]

17. LOL!!!!...............too funny!!!!!!

[xxqqqzme]

8. 30 people in a hangar?

doesn't that echo bother squatter.

[NV1962]

9. Yada yada... and Europe calls on Bush to stop subsidizing terror!

Over $70bn in Iraq & almost $2bn for Halliburton and counting...

[goforit]

18. roflmao!!!!!..............Tell it like it is!!

[physioex]

11. If Boeing things they are gonna get Shrub to do this...

Then they are stupider than a bag of hammers....

Course they will probably ask for government welfare instead...

[Kellanved]

13. huh?

Was this article written by Boeing's PR department?
--snip

Airbus, established in 1970 as a consortium of European companies, has received large government subsidies from European nations and continues to receive them. It is based in Toulouse, France.

--snap

That's BS. Boeing receives far more subsidies, overt as well as hidden, than Airbus.
In fact Airbus does not get any significant subsidies other than the loans guaranteed in the 1992 US/EU trade treaty. (Bush sr. BTW)
Strictly speaking Airbus doesn't get any subventions other than help to acquire space for new plants. The EU has a pretty strict anti-subsidy policy.

[goforit]

19. Bush and Boeing................are just so jealous and greedy SOBs.

They want to rule the world.

But instead are being slapped in the face!!!

They are feeling the pain!!!

[lebkuchen]

15. Europe doesn't give a damn what you think, Chimpy.

[Liberal Gramma]

16. Judging by his record we can expect

the Boeing contracts with the government to be cancelled sometime this week. Bush has a history of saying the exact opposite of his intended actions.

[goforit]

20. Yes, all those who stand with Bush, FALL with Bush....So Be IT!!!!

[skordane]

21. Getting Rid of Bush Would Help Boeing

If Boeing wants more business from foreign airlines they would do better with Bush out of office. Because of the way this administration has alienated and turned off the rest of the world it would be unpopular for them to spend billions of dollars on American products. Besides the subsidies argument is false. Boeing already receives backdoor subsidies through defense spending. Look at the 767 tanker lease deal.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi skordane!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[fortyfeetunder]

28. Boeing needs to give it a rest...

Boeing needs instead to look inwardly on their entire practice rather than attack Airbus. There are other reasons they aren't making money but I don't think subsidies to Airbus are the answer.

[AP]

22. How else could they compete with Boeing? Basically, he's asking Europe

to clear the playing field so that Boeing can dominate the marketplace, which would result in monopoly pricing and the end of innovation.

[Robb]

24. What the hell else is he gonna say in Seattle...

...what a freakin' idiot. Next stop, Pepsi bottling plant to tell voters there he's gonna tax the crap out of Coke. :eyes: "No, vote for me!"

Didn't Boeing shift a lot of its workforce out of Seattle a few years back?

[fortyfeetunder]

29. Boeing moved its corp HQ out of Seattle

PLUS...

They practically browbeat and threatened the Washington State gov't into giving them a 3.2 billion dollar sweetheart deal so the 7E7 could be assembled in the state. However, they've practically gave away the "farm" (critical manufacturing technology) to countries around the world. And it's not really helping sales.

For example, Boeing built some manufacturing facility in South Africa. But guess who S. Africa national airlines bought airplanes from? 'T wasn't Seattle!

Unfortunately, they haven't got a landing gear to land on when it comes to beating on Airbus.