Airbus Dodges Latest EU Tariffs

The most recent tariffs by the U.S. on the European Union (EU) have an exemption for civil aircraft and the parts imported to build them, AL.com reports. “It’s excellent news,” said Mobile Chamber President and CEO Bradley Byrne. “It automatically makes this third assembly line that Airbus is [planning to open] be successful.” The trade deal will see the U.S. impose a 15% import tariff on most EU goods, but in exempting the aerospace industry, it protects the business of its two major players: Boeing and Airbus. The exemption maintains an agreement authorized in 1979 that involves more than 30 nations to maintain duty-free trading on all civil aircraft. Airbus employs 2,000 people at its Mobile facility, the largest North American manufacturing operation for the European company. It also builds airplanes at plants in Germany, France, Canada and China.