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EADS CEO 'Enormously Frustrated' Over WTO Delays

Head of Airbus parent company?said he's "enormously frustrated" with?World Trade Organization, claiming it's?being 'unfair' by delaying its report on complaints against rival Boeing.

LONDON (AP) -- The head of Airbus parent EADS said he is "enormously frustrated" with the World Trade Organization, which he claims is being "unfair" by delaying its report on complaints against arch-rival Boeing.

Both companies have been reported to the WTO, which has struggled for years to rule over whether they benefited from unfair subsidies.

"We are in an abnormal and increasingly unfair situation," EADS chief Louis Gallois said at media day in London. His comments were held for release.

The problem for the WTO is that the companies are helped in different ways.

Airbus benefits from launch aid -- low interest government loans for new aircraft programs -- while the European Union claims Boeing gains from research and development support and tax breaks.

In June, the WTO ruled that Airbus benefited from some illegal subsidies.

The ruling was used by Boeing and its supporters to claim that Airbus had an unfair advantage as the two plane makers battle to win a $35-billion U.S. air force contract for refueling jets.

Airbus claims 70 percent of Boeing's arguments were defeated, and it was waiting for the WTO to rule on its counter complaint against Boeing to level the playing field. That report, which was due this month, has been delayed until September.

"I am enormously frustrated," said Gallois, claiming this was the third delay.

However, he said that when it comes to the air force tanker contract, the Pentagon is being fair.

"I

In 2008, EADS was awarded the contract with American partner Northrop Grumman, which was then the prime contractor, but it was overturned on appeal.

Northrop then withdrew from the competition saying the Pentagon's guidelines favor Boeing.

After initial hesitation, EADS decided to bid alone. 

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