WTO rules that Boeing benefited from illegal subsidies

The WTO ruling comes after a long-running battle between Boeing and its rival, Airbus, over research help and financing that the two plane makers have received.

The European Union alleges that Boeing recieved almost $24 billion in illegal subsidies, including research grants and free use of technology from NASA and the Department of Defence.

Airbus, however, issued a statement that said the report shows Boeing received “at least $5 billion” in illegal subsidies. Airbus said the ruling, when made public, will show that without those illegal subsidies, “Boeing would not have been able to launch the 787.”

If confirmed, the allegation about the funding of the 787 Dreamliner is certainly serious. Boeing claimed that the WTO had come out in its favor. “The WTO rejected almost all of Europe’s claims against the United States,” it said in a statement. “Nothing in today’s reports even begins to compare to the $20 billion in illegal subsidies that the WTO found last June that Airbus/EADS has received.”

Airbus said it expects the dispute to carry on for “several more years,” and that a negotiated settlement is the only way to resolve it.