Boeing Questions Lending to Airbus

Boeing Co. said it met with U.S. trade officials to discuss whether European government lending to Airbus Industrie, the European consortium that is the world’s only other maker of large jetliners, may be in violation of international trade agreements. Boeing is concerned about funds Airbus might get to help build its planned 550-seat A3XX “super jumbo,” and about loans already received for other jets. Seattle-based Boeing wants the U.S. to challenge the loans if there is evidence they’re on noncommercial terms or the governments aren’t paid back. An Airbus spokeswoman denied that Airbus gets any unfair subsidies. Boeing shares fell $1.38 to close at $44.31 on the NYSE.