The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that Boeing received at least $5.3 billion in improper aid from the U.S. government, including money for research and development from NASA, BBC News reported March 31. The subsidies gave the U.S. company an unfair advantage over its European rival, Airbus, the WTO concluded.
Europe had claimed that Boeing received illegal subsidies worth $19.1 billion between 1989 and 2006. The WTO did not uphold all of the claims, but ruled that some of the aid, including NASA contracts and some tax breaks, had a serious impact on Airbus’ interests.
Last year the WTO concluded that Airbus had received illegal subsidies from the European Union. The two companies have been at war over government aid for almost six years.
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