China tariffs on US business jets may do little to benefit rivals

SHANGHAI, Apr 16 (Reuters): China's planned tariffs on U.S. business jets may do little to buoy rivals despite concerns the moves could create an unequal playing field in the fast-growing China market, aviation executives said in Shanghai on Monday.

China earlier this month announced retaliatory tariffs against key U.S. imports, among which is a proposed 25 per cent tariff on U.S. aircraft with an "empty weight" of between 15,000 kilograms and 45,000 kilograms.

The growing trade spat between Beijing and Washington creates a potential threat to U.S. plane makers including Boeing Co and Gulfstream, which could see prices of some planes rise. European rivals, however, said it wasn't so clear-cut.

"You have many other parameters that lead to a sale. Price is one of them, but not the only one," said Carlos Brana, senior vice president of civil aircraft at Dassault Aviation.

The category impacted by the potential tariffs would include General Dynamics Corp's popular Gulfstream G550 and G650s and the larger Boeing Business Jet 1 that competes against models from European rival Airbus SE.

"Our view is that trade war benefits nobody," said David Velupillai, marketing director at Airbus Corporate Jets at a press conference on Monday ahead of the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in Shanghai.