U.S. Won’t Hold Off Seeking Airbus Ruling

The Bush administration won’t delay asking the World Trade Organization to rule on the legality of European subsidies used to develop Airbus aircraft, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said at a conference in Paris.

The U.S. filed a WTO complaint Oct. 6, claiming loans by European governments to Airbus amount to illegal subsidies under global trade rules.

The EU immediately countered, alleging Boeing Co. receives unfair aid.