Hearings into the trade dispute between the European Commission and the US government over subsidies for Airbus and Boeing will be open to the public after the two parties agreed not to hold proceedings behind closed doors.
The USA launched its litigation in May 2005, asking the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for a dispute settlement panel, a move that prompted the EC to request a panel to hear its own complaint against the USA. The EC and US cases are expected to run in parallel, beginning with the first submissions by each complainant. These will be followed by rebuttal submissions by each defendant. The first round of dispute settlement hearings is set to start in June. This is the second time a WTO dispute panel has decided to waive secrecy and open its hearings to the public after taking the unprecedented step in August 2005 to allow the public to view the politically charged dispute concerning the European Union’s ban on hormone-fed beef.
AIMEE TURNER / LONDON
Source: Flight International