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Montage of Wing Point in Bainbridge Island and the Edmonds Ferry.

Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

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Supporting Washington State's Aerospace Industry: Inslee Comments on Tanker Decision and Euro Airbus Subsidies

October 8, 2004

Tanker Decision Does Not Open Up Competition

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-01) commented on today’s decision by conferees to the Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization (H.R. 4200) to nullify DOD’s plan to lease one hundred air tankers from Boeing.

“Contrary to what some have been suggesting, today’s decision does not bring Boeing’s attempts for an air tanker deal with the Air Force back to square one and does not open up the competition for the tanker deal,” said Inslee.

“Instead, this move will now allow the Air Force to buy one hundred air tankers outright from Boeing. The Air Force can no longer rely on its dinosaur tanker fleet. I am confident that the Air Force will be buying Boeings 767’s, since these planes are best suited for our tanker defense needs. We will not allow the Administration or the Republican leadership to outsource our security needs to Airbus.”

European Subsidies to Airbus

In response to Wednesday’s announcement by U.S. Trade Representative Bob Zoellick that the U.S. government will file a trade case at the World Trade Organization over continued European government subsidization of Airbus, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee commented:

“We have been outraged about Airbus’s anticompetitive behavior and unfair subsidies for a long time, and today’s decision to take strong action is long overdue. I commend the United States Trade Representative for taking this action, which has broad, deep support in Congress. For many years Airbus has had a significant advantage over Boeing. Airbus has received valuable subsidies such as $15 billion in aid that it did not have to borrow at commercial rates, infrastructure improvements targeted specifically at Airbus facilities and products, equity infusions from governments, and debt forgiveness from governments.

When I visit Europe this December to participate in a transatlantic policy meeting, I will leave no doubt that this is not a ploy, and that we are determined to see this case through to the end. I will send a strong message that fixing this inequity is at the top of our agenda, and that our government has made a serious commitment to reaching a more fair, less distorted arrangement in the commercial aircraft market.”