WTO: Boeing received subsidies

The World Trade Organization ruled Monday that U.S. federal and local governments provided billions of dollars in illegal subsidies to plane-maker Boeing for the 787 and other aircraft. The money gave Boeing an unfair advantage against Europe's Airbus, the panel said. The findings are similar to those in an interim report released in September. The WTO has now found that both Boeing and Airbus, a unit of EADS, received illegal aid. Both companies are competing to build aerial tankers for the U.S. Air Force. (Sources: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, 01/31/11) Gulf Coast note: EADS North America wants to assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala.