18/03/2020 (Agence Europe) – Despite the new sanctions imposed by the US on certain EU imports, mainly aircraft (see EUROPE 12448/24, 12352/16), the Commission is staying the course in defending a negotiated outcome to the transatlantic disputes on Airbus and Boeing aircraft manufacturers in the WTO. On Monday 16 March, EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan once again “made this point strongly” to his counterpart, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, on the need to identify a negotiated solution to their respective aircraft manufacturer disputes, the Commission spokesman told EUROPE. In the coming days, the European negotiating team will continue to promote this solution, he also said. The EU had made concrete proposals in order to ensure a level playing field for economic operators on both sides of the Atlantic, in particular on the modalities of the support that could be granted to aircraft manufacturers (see EUROPE 12346/11). (HD)