Airbus CEO warns of trade conflict over carbon tax

SINGAPORE (AP) - Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders says he's "very worried" that new European Union carbon emission charges for airlines could spark a trade war between Europe and the rest of the world.

Enders said Monday at an aviation conference in Singapore that "what started out as a solution for the environment has become a source of potential trade conflict."

The EU imposed the scheme on Jan. 1 in a bid to curb emissions of climate-changing gases but China, Russia and the U.S. have voiced opposition.

International Air Transport Association CEO Tony Tyler urged the EU to negotiate new carbon emissions guidelines through the International Civil Aviation Organization.

France-based Airbus is the world's largest commercial airplane maker and a subsidiary of EADS.