British PM tells Trump of 'disappointment' at US tariffs in Airbus-Boeing row

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told President Donald Trump in a phone call on Wednesday of his "disappointment" at US tariffs recently announced against EU exports and pressed for them to be scrapped, his office said.

"The Prime Minister underlined his disappointment at the US announcement of tariffs against UK and EU exports in the Airbus-Boeing dispute," a Downing Street spokeswoman said in a statement detailing the conversation.

"(They) will harm a number of industries including Scotch Whisky," it added.

"He pressed the president not to impose the tariffs."

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) last week gave Washington the greenlight to slap tariffs on USD 7.5 billion (6.8 billion euros) worth of European Union goods in retaliation for its illegal state support of the planemaker Airbus.

The ruling is the largest arbitration award in WTO history and a landmark moment in the 15-year long Airbus-Boeing battle, which is set to intensify already strained trade relations between the .