Chinese Official Endorses Action Against Airbus (EADSY, BA)

China’s ambassador to the European Union has said that he believes it “makes sense” for the Chinese government to delay signing orders for new Airbus aircraft from the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (OTC: EADSY) in response to the EU’s unilateral imposition of a carbon emissions fee for planes landing or taking off from EU airports. China has delayed orders for 35 planes so far, worth a total of about $12 billion in revenue to Airbus.

We noted earlier today the huge disparity between new orders on Airbus and the Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA). The longer this dispute goes on — and the EU has again today confirmed that it will not rescind or alter the fee — the more likely it is that Boeing will capture more orders that would have gone to Airbus from the 26 nations that oppose the fee. The US, Russia, India, and China are among the countries disputing the EU’s fee.

The Wall Street Journal noted that the ambassador also said that Chinese airplane orders are “largely a commercial decision by the airline, but of course their decision will be influenced by the position of the central government on [the carbon emissions fee].” The Chinese government has directed its carriers to refuse to pay the fee.