Photo: EPA-EFE/HOW HWEE YOUNG
Canada will allow aeroplane manufacturer Airbus to use Russian titanium in its production despite sanctions against its supplier, Reuters reported Tuesday.
The decision means that Airbus will be able to profit from jets made with lightweight titanium despite the sanctions against world-leading Russian titanium producer VSMPO-AVISMA imposed by the Canadian government in February.
In autumn 2023 the US Department of Commerce placed the company under restrictions for its direct involvement in “producing and manufacturing titanium and metal products for the Russian military and security services”.
“Airbus is aware of the Canadian government imposing sanctions on VSMPO and has obtained the necessary authorisation to secure Airbus operations in compliance with the applicable sanctions,” Airbus Canada commented in response to Reuters’ report with no indication as to how long the measures would remain in effect.
Michael Schoellhorn, chief executive of Airbus Defence & Space, said in December 2022 that the company was “decoupling from Russia when it comes to titanium”, and that the process “will be a matter of months not years”.
