Originally Posted by Mark in CA
Did Boeing choose GS Yuasa to supply the batteries to ensure plane sales to Japanese carriers? This report in today's NY Times seems to suggest thats exactly what happened.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/bu...ef=todayspaper
A former Boeing executive confirmed this when we spoke this week. After asking not to be named because of the diplomatic fragility of the topic, he said: “Let me put it this way: we knew the Japanese market would be Boeing’s in return for our selecting these Japanese partners. It was a silent understanding, and there was nothing in writing.” He added that Boeing’s Japanese suppliers had received low-interest loans from the Japanese government repayable only out of future profits.
If true that will now cause massive WTO ructions. As is often the case statements which sound sensible when made regarding one situation have a massive impact on another.