Brussels, 31/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - Former US trade representative Bob Zoellick, who is now Undersecretary of State, expressed serious doubts over the prospects of an EU / United States agreement on the ban on subsidies to Airbus and Boeing before the 11 April deadline. The two sides agreed a three-month truce on 11 January to negotiate an agreement but dialogue broke down on 21 March after deep divisions emerged on the definition of state aid (see EUROPE no. 8913). “My most recent conversation with Commissioner Mandelson does not permit me to predict a settlement within the time we have set ourselves”, said Mr Zoellick this week on a visit to Budapest. “It is up to the EU to decide how it wishes to proceed after 11 April”. The Commission, for its part, felt that the ball was in the Americans' court.