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EU: Boeing $4.7 billion Embraer deal faces antitrust probe

By  |  September 23, 2019

Boeing is set to face an EU antitrust investigation into its bid for a controlling stake in the commercial aircraft arm of Brazil’s Embraer, Reuters reported on Monday (September 23).

According to Reuters the deal would reshape a global passenger jet duopoly and reinforce Western plane makers against newcomers from China, Russia and Japan.

It would give Boeing a foothold in the lower end of the market, enabling it to better compete with the CSeries jets designed by Canada’s Bombardier Inc and backed by European rival Airbus SE.

The European Commission, which has set an Oct. 4 deadline for its preliminary review of the deal, did not respond to a request for immediate comment.

The EU competition enforcer will launch a full-scale investigation following the end of its review, which could take up to five months and raises pressure on Boeing to offer concessions to address competition concerns.