“I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Casablanca (1942)
NABI Press Release (2021-4) – March 10, 2021
NABI Gives a Standing Ovation and Applauds the Implementation Today of the Mutual
Suspension by United States and European Union of the Airbus and Boeing Tariffs for
“Actions speak louder than words” said Robert M. Tobiassen, NABI President on the formal
implementation of the four-month suspension of the Airbus and Boeing tariffs and praised the
Biden/Harris Administration for its efforts early in the term to build back better the relationships
with the traditional trade partners. “The early nomination and confirmation hearing for
Katherine Tai as the 19th United States Trade Representative and the recent mutual suspensions
announced by the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States are outstanding
outcomes of the new Administration’s skills at multi-tasking crucial policy challenges on
COVID vaccine distributions, economic relief, supply chain sustainability, and trade policies.
With Ms. Tai’s pending confirmation by the Senate, the future of trade for the U.S. feels so
much more positive” he added. NABI commends and appreciates the trade work of the
European Commission that brings us to these mutual suspensions.
Moving forward there is still much work still to do in these four months to foster a successful
settlement negotiation of the large civil aircraft subsidy scheme. NABI wishes UTRA Nominee
Tai and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis an earnest and successful
discussion. “NABI really hopes that as the four months of negotiations rigorously move
forward” said Tobiassen, “that good faith negotiations will lead to good relations and trust that
foster the EU to consider suspending the doubling of the steel and aluminum tariffs in June.”
This week, USTR announced a conclusion with the EU on WTO quota adjustments for the EU
resulting from the UK departure from the EU. He added, “Building off of these early successes
with the EU creates confidence and good will to take on enormous pending trade policies on
Digital Services Tax (DST) and worldwide steel and aluminum overcapacity down the road.”
For the USTR Notice click here.
For further information, please contact NABI at nabipresident@bevimporters.org or (202) 393-
6224.