Well, this is about 26 years too late. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/08/13/n= ational2007EDT0804.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, August 13, 2004 (AP) Bush says Europeans should end Airbus subsidies (08-13) 17:58 PDT SEATTLE (AP) -- President Bush said Friday that European nations should end their subsidies of the plane manufacturer Airbus, saying the United States is prepared to take action before the World Trade Organization to stop them. Bush made the comments after meeting with executives of Boeing in Seattl= e. He said he has instructed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to inform European officials of the U.S. position at a meeting in September. "We think these subsidies are unfair and that (Zoellick) should pursue a= ll options to end these subsidies, including bringing a WTO case if need be," Bush told reporters after the Boeing meeting. "We think these subsidies should end." Bush said he is confident that American companies can compete with all foreign competitors as long as the playing field is level. Boeing and Airbus compete in a wide range of civilian and military aircraft markets. "Getting rid of subsidies will make the trade fair," the president said. Airbus, established in 1970 as a consortium of European companies, has received large government subsidies from European nations and continues to receive them. It is based in Toulouse, France. Accusations of improper subsidies fly both ways between Boeing and Airbu= s. Last year, Airbus said it was gathering information about U.S. aid to Boeing, especially for the company's new airliner, the 7E7. Under the terms of a 1992 bilateral accord on civil aviation, the United States and the European Union pledged that government loans would not be allowed to exceed 33 percent of total investment by their respective aerospace companies. Since then, however, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of breaking the deal. Democrat John Kerry has proposed U.S. subsidies for Boeing as well as a WTO case against Airbus. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP