US lawmakers warn on Airbus subsidy issue

(WASHINGTON) - More than 100 US lawmakers told President Barack Obama in a letter Friday that they would act to protect jobs at home if a final WTO ruling finds Europe's Airbus benefited from illegal subsidies.

"When the WTO's final ruling in this matter confirms US claims that Airbus products were illegally subsidized, we will be committed to ensuring this principle is upheld," they wrote in the message, dated Wednesday.

Republican Representative Todd Tiahrt and Democratic Representative Norm Dicks crafted the letter, which refers to a September World Trade Organization interim ruling in a dispute pitting Airbus against US arch rival Boeing.

The ruling was not publicly released.

The lawmakers, whose home states have significant Boeing operations, said US workers had suffered from improper subsidies and that US government policies ought to ensure a level playing field.

"These policies should enable further development of the skills and capacity of the American workforce and create jobs here at home. Our policies should not reward foreign governments or companies that benefited from illegal subsidies," they wrote.

Boeing hailed the letter in a statement as evidence of "strong bipartisan congressional support" for action to end any illegal subsidies for Airbus and said it would work with lawmakers.

"Airbus appears poised to extend and continue the practice of using illegal subsidies for its new aircraft, the A350. This new plane directly targets America's aerospace industry and the tens of thousands of workers who design and build aircraft in the United States," said Boeing.