Discussion: Boeing verus Airbus: Two Decades of Trades Disputes Problem: 

Do you believe Airbus could have become a viable competitor witout subsidies? 

Why do you think the four European government agreed to subsididize the establishmnet of Airbus?

Is Airbus's position with regard to the long running dispute over subsidies reasonable? Why do you think that the U.S. industry reacted with caution to attempts by politicians to reopen the trade dispute in 1993?

Do you think that the 1992 trade agreement was reasonable? 
Why do you think that the U.S. industry reacted with caution to attempts by politicians to reopen the trade dispute in 1993?

In an era of global competition, what is the case for antitrust authorities to permit the formation of large domestic firms through mergers and acquisitions?

Was the threat by EU authorities to declare the boeing-McDonnell Douglas merger illegal a violation of U.S. national sovereignty?

Do you think the EU Commission had a strong case in its attempts to wring concession from Boeing regarding the merger with McDonnell Douglas? Was Boeing right to make significant conessions to the EU? What might have occured if the concessions were not made?

Why did the U.S. government decide to reopen the long-running trade dispute between Boeing and Airbusin 2004? Do you think the U.S. position is reasonable? What about the EU counterchanges? Are they reasonable?

Now that the dispute has gone to the World Trade Organzartion, what do you think would be a fair and equitable outcome?