US – USTR requests WTO meeting to approve additional tariffs

On October 2, 2019, USTR announced that the United States has requested that the WTO schedule a meeting on October 14 to approve a US request for authorization to take countermeasures against the EU in connection with the arbitrator’s decision in the WTO dispute entitled “European Communities and Certain member States — Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft” (DS316). Earlier in the day, the WTO announced that a WTO arbitrator issued its decision finding the level of countermeasures the United States may request is approx. $7.5 Billion.  Pursuant to WTO rules, the WTO will provide this authorization automatically at that meeting. The EU is not allowed to retaliate against WTO-authorized countermeasures.