Bush Calls Airbus Funds Unfair

President Bush on Friday called European subsidies to Airbus, the world’s biggest plane maker, unfair and said the U.S. might file a World Trade Organization complaint to force a cut.

“I have instructed U.S. Trade Representative Bob Zoellick to inform European officials at their September meeting that we think those subsidies are unfair,” Bush said after meeting with Boeing Co. employees while on a campaign stop in Seattle.

Boeing fears Airbus competition for its touted new plane, the 7E7 Dreamliner.

Airbus said it received loans, not subsidies, within the limits of a 1992 U.S.-European pact to reduce state aid.