Joe Biden and the EU resolve trade dispute surrounding Boeing and Airbus

US President Joe Biden wraps up his first overseas engagements with his summits in Europe. Biden has also made a breakthrough with the European Union over an almost 17-year long trade dispute.

The US and the EU have now agreed to a truce in an aviation trade dispute that lasted for almost 17 years surrounding airline manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. The truce would now phase out billions of dollars in tariffs that affected industries outside aviation, from motorcycle manufacturers to food. Resolving the dispute also leaves both sides able to work together in challenging China over what they claim to be unfair practices.

This also comes as Biden looks to reset relations between the US and its allies in Europe, following the four years of Donald Trump’s America First policy. “I’ve been making the case that the US and Europe -- and democracies everywhere -- are stronger when we work together to advance our shared values like fair competition and transparency,” said Biden. “Today’s announcement demonstrates exactly how that can work in practice.”

The dispute dates back to 2004 with both sides alleging unfair subsidizing of Airbus in Europe and Boeing in the US. Following a legal dispute with the World Trade Organization, it resulted in the US imposing tariffs on aircraft and other products like cheese and whiskey. The EU imposed duties on billions of dollars on American imports from motorcycles, jeans, as well as bourbon whiskey.

The tariffs cover trade worth $11.5 billion and businesses have paid around $3.3 billion in duties. Both sides have agreed to a four-month suspension of the charges despite relations having thawed with Washington when Biden was sworn in as president.

In other news, Biden has made nine more ambassadorial nominees this week to a few more countries including NATO and other world organizations. Biden tapped Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to represent the US in the International Civil Aviation Organization in the announcement by the White House prior to Biden’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Other nominations include former Obama administration Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides as ambassador to Israel, former Colorado Senator Ken Salazar as the US Ambassador to Mexico, and Biden’s former deputy national security adviser during his vice presidency Julianne Smith as the US Ambassador to NATO.