US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1513

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