IRISH RESPONSE ON AIRBUS DEMARCHE: "WE'RE NOT

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001513 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KPAO EUN SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE ON AIRBUS DEMARCHE: "WE'RE NOT INVOLVED." REF: STATE 213973 ¶1. On October 7, post delivered reftel talking points to Tony Joyce, Senior Trade Negotiator in Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. Joyce said that Ireland had no involvement in the aircraft manufacturing sector and thus no direct interest in the Airbus-Boeing dispute. He noted that the Commission, at the most recent 133 meeting, had expressed disappointment that the USG had not attempted to resolve the dispute through mechanisms available under the 1992 U.S.-EC Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft. The Commission had also attributed USG actions to the U.S. presidential election and to the growing strength of Airbus' competitive position. Per reftel, Emboff replied that the importance of this issue extended beyond the November elections and that the U.S. goal was a level playing field in the market. Joyce said that the Irish Government would have preferred additional efforts by both sides to resolve the dispute before taking recourse to WTO settlement mechanisms. He also noted the GOI's hope for a resolution during the 60-day WTO consultations period. DALY