Moak Lauds Ex-Im Bank Reforms Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line
Pilots Association, Int’l, commended yesterday’s passage of the Export-Import
Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012, which includes important reforms to safeguard
U.S. airlines and their employees from the bank’s financing of aircraft to
overseas airlines.
“This legislation contains new protections and greater accountability,” said
Moak, adding that “U.S. taxpayer dollars should not be used to give foreign
carriers the competitive advantage.”
The Ex-Im Bank, the U.S. government’s export credit agency, provides
financing assistance to foreign buyers of U.S.-produced goods, often at
below-market prices. Boeing, one of the bank’s principal clients, has used the
bank’s financing to sell dozens of wide-body aircraft to foreign carriers,
providing these organizations with a distinct operational edge and putting U.S.
airlines and their employees at risk.
This latest reauthorization legislation establishes new
reporting and auditing rules, making Ex-Im Bank transactions more transparent.
The law also directs the U.S. government to negotiate with European countries
that finance Airbus to put an end to worldwide subsidies of wide-body aircraft.
“I applaud Congress and President Obama for taking swift action to pass this
important law, which will be a first step in helping to level the playing field
for U.S.-based airlines and enabling them to better compete in the global
airline market,” said Moak.
For more extensive coverage of the U.S. Export-Import Bank reauthorization
and the Association’s campaign to ensure adequate protections were included, see
the June-July 2012 issue of Air Line Pilot magazine. |