Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA) and a state congressional delegation recently released 15 call-to-action letters, also signed by members of the business community, against two Middle Eastern nations.
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have violated Open Skies agreements, the letters allege, and have sent more than $50 billion in international trade subsidies to state-owned airlines Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates.
The move puts more than 1 million American jobs at risk. In Georgia, the aviation industry is worth $17 billion and employs 114,000.
“We thank Governor Deal and political and business leaders across Georgia for standing up for American workers and protecting the airline industry,” Delta’s Chief Legal Officer Peter Carter said. “Delta is proud to call Georgia home and takes pride in our efforts to protect our employees from the illegal actions of the Gulf carriers. We will continue to push for fair enforcement of our trade deals and to make sure this type of trade-cheating ends immediately.”
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators sent similar letters in March to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. A Michigan congressional delegation did the same the following month.
Both groups said the misuse of subsidies harms competition and American jobs.