Ashton Carter, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, spoke after French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and others made harsh comments about bidding rules for the tanker contract that prompted the withdrawal of Airbus maker EADS.

"We value the contribution of European industry to the choices we can make as a department," Ashton told journalists. "We welcome that. There is no protectionism going on."

Boeing is poised to win the 35-billion-dollar (26-billion-euro) contract to build the new refueling tanker planes for the US Air Force after Northrop and its partner, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, dropped their joint offer.

European officials and EADS, which owns French-based planemaker Airbus, charged that the Pentagon altered bidding rules for the contract in order to favor Boeing's all-American offer.

"I admit that I did not appreciate this decision," Sarkozy said Friday after talks with Brown in London.

"These are methods which are not good for the partners of the United States, which is a great nation with which we are close and friends with," he added at a joint press conference.

Brown added: "I too am disappointed about the American decision."

The European Commission has protested and a German minister has accused the United States of protectionism, warning that Berlin will take up the issue at the political level and at the World Trade Organization.

earlier related report
US will drive tough bargain on tanker deal: Gates
At Us Military Base In Southwest Asia (AFP) March 11, 2010 - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday the Pentagon will drive a hard bargain with Boeing on a contract for a new aerial refuelling tanker after Airbus parent EADS dropped out the competition.

Gates said: "We will certainly be sharpening our pencil when it comes to negotiating a contract with Boeing", the sole bidder for the troubled tanker aircraft project.

He saw no reason why the decision by EADS and Northrop Grumman would cause any further delays for "the long delayed programme to replace the ageing fleet of military tankers".

He made the remarks at a US military base in Southwest Asia, en route for talks in Abu Dhabi.

US aerospace giant Boeing is poised to win a 35 billion dollar (26 billion euro) contract to build the new refuelling tanker plane for the US air force after Northrop Grumman and its European partner EADS dropped their joint offer.

European officials and EADS, which owns French-based planemaker Airbus, claim that the Pentagon altered bidding rules for the contract in order to favour Boeing's all-American offer over the European bid.

The Pentagon insists that the bidding process was fair and that it will buy the aircraft that best fits the needs of the air force for the price.

But the European Commission has protested and a German minister has accused the United States of protectionism, warning that Berlin would take up the issue at the political level and at the World Trade Organisation.

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