Paris: French President Nicolas Sarkozy will
raise concerns that the US Air Force's USD 35 billion tanker
contract is anticompetitive when he visits President Barack
Obama later this month, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
EADS, the parent company of Airbus, had partnered with
Northrop Grumman to vie for the 179-tanker order, but their
consortium pulled out on Monday.
They said the terms of the deal appeared designed to
eliminate its design in favor of a smaller jet offered by
rival Boeing Co.
The duo were awarded the original contract, which was
overturned and revised after Boeing appealed.
French government spokesman Luc Chatel said Wednesday
that France regrets the decision which "raises questions about
whether competition rules are working properly."
He said Sarkozy will raise the issue with Obama, whom he
will visit March 30 for talks which also include a private
dinner.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 21:34