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