* Airbus ministers to push for delay of EU ETS -Hintze

* Want global agreement in 2013 via trade body ICAO

* Britain’s Fallon warns of clear and present danger

* Airbus sales chief says airlines could pay tax to ICAO

(Reuters) – Aerospace officials of the European countries where Airbus makes its planes will push for a delay to the start of the European Union’s Emission Trading System (ETS) for airlines to avert retaliation from China, an official said on Tuesday.

The German government official in charge of aerospace policy, Peter Hintze, said after a meeting of the so-called Airbus ministers from Britain, France, Germany and Spain that they would propose to their national governments that payments under the ETS should be delayed beyond the planned April start.

“I am in favour of a suspension until the autumn of 2013,” Hintze told journalists following a news conference with fellow ministers. “That would buy some time from April until September.”

During the news conference the other ministers did not spell out exactly what action they intended to take.

Michael Fallon, new business minister in Britain, said at the ILA Berlin Air Show on Tuesday: “Airbus has left us with no doubt that the threat of retaliatory action is a clear and present danger to its order list,”

China has threatened retaliation – including impounding European aircraft – if the European Union punishes Chinese airlines for not complying with its emissions trading scheme (ETS), intended to curb pollution.

The dispute between China and the EU froze deals worth up to $14 billion, though China signed an agreement with Germany for 50 Airbus planes worth over $4 billion during Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Beijing last month.

If the dispute is not resolved, Airbus will have to cut its production target for the A330 “pretty soon”, Airbus Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier said late on Monday.

SOURCE REUTERS, Read more..   photo: M. van Leeuwen Z.A.P.P.