Airbus set for multi-billion China order: sources

BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) - China could order dozens of Airbus jetliners during a visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to Berlin according to sources, but the deals are clouded by a spat between Beijing and Europe over aviation carbon tariffs.

A Chinese leasing firm could, under one scenario discussed in the build-up to the visit on Tuesday, order over 60 A320 aircraft, worth about $5 billion at list prices, according to sources close to the negotiations.

But other people familiar with the matter said the type and value of deals had not yet been finalized on the eve of the visit.

Airbus <EAD.PA> declined to comment.

Britain and China signed a series of deals worth $2.3 billion during the premier's visit there on Monday.

The visit comes just days after industry sources said China had delayed the announcement of a $3.8 billion order for 10 Airbus A380 superjumbo jets at the Paris Air Show to protest over EU emissions trading rules.

Under plans to include international aviation in its carbon market from next year, the EU would require all airlines flying to Europe to buy permits for each tonne of carbon dioxide they emit above a certain cap.

Airbus began assembling A320s for the Chinese market at a factory in Tianjin outside Beijing in 2009.

China typically schedules aircraft orders to coincide with political visits, but the deals are often difficult to analyze as to whether the contracts are new or not. (Reporting by Rene Wagner in Berlin and Tim Hepher in Paris; Writing by Victoria Bryan)