Errr.... BOAC, here is the original post...
Considering that the Americans scuppered Concorde as a commercial success by restrictive practices in the USA and used their influence in South America to achieve the same ends, do you think they will use the same tactics against the A380??
So, in response to the original post... I remember seeing the article in Flight regarding the NPRM to apply ETOPS to four engine aircraft. However, it also mentioned that this would probably apply only to NEW aircraft. Older aircraft would have "Grandfather rights". In other words, current aircraft (including B747, A340, DC10, etc.) would be able to operate according to the way that they always have, i.e. non-ETOPS. Now, if engines are more reliable (as 747Focal points out by commenting that you don't need four engines when two are safe enough) why include a statisticly safer aircraft in ETOPS?
Considering that Boeing doesn't have any four engined aircraft in the pipeline, it appears to be protectionist, favouring a US company over an outsider. Therefore my answer to the question posed in the original post is "Yes, it appears to be happening already".
Cheers,
LP