The United States is threatening new tariffs on EU goods worth $4 billion

The United States is intensifying its trade fight with the European Union over aircraft subsidies, proposing new tariffs on EU goods worth $4 billion. The tariffs, announced late Monday by the United States Trade Representative, cover 89 products including meat, cheese, pasta, fruits, coffee and whisky. They will be added to the tariffs on EU exports worth $21 billion announced in April, USTR said. The decision to slap tariffs on the additional $4 billion worth of goods came "in response to public comments and additional analysis," the agency said in a statement. Washington has been locked in a dispute with the European Union for years over two of the world's biggest airplane manufacturers — Boeing (BA) and Airbus (EADSF). The conflict dates back to 2004, when EU authorities said Boeing received $19 billion in unfair subsidies from federal and state governments between 1989 and 2006. The US government filed a similar claim that year over European subsidies to Airbus. The World Trade Organization has handed down favorable rulings to both sides since then, underscoring the complexity of the dispute. The latest tariffs are also subject to arbitration by the WTO, which is expected to deliver its findings this summer.