Mon, Jan 07, 2008
The International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is calling on the U.S.
Department of Commerce to suspend a new program that allows
companies in China to gain expedited access to sensitive U.S.
aerospace technology, including telecommunication and composites
technologies with potential military applications.
"It is naive to assume that relaxing export restrictions on
sensitive aerospace technology does not represent a significant
threat to U.S. jobs, companies and communities," said IAM
International President Tom Buffenbarger. "It is equally naive to
ignore the national security implications of such technology
transfers to China."
In a letter to the Under Secretary of the Commerce Department's
Bureau of Industry and Security, Buffenbarger took issue with one
company in China that was recently approved for such expedited
technology transfers under the Commerce Department's Validated
End-User program.
"The approval of one of these companies, Boeing Hexcel AVIC I
Joint venture will involve work on the Boeing 787 program that
could have been performed by U.S. workers," said Buffenbarger. "We
find it very difficult to believe that your actions are good for
U.S. workers or the U.S. economy."
The Boeing Hexcel venture represents
additional national security concerns, according to a report by the
Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, an independent research
foundation that monitors the spread of arms technology. "Reducing
control on exports to such companies increases the risk that
American goods will help China improve its armed forces, and that
American goods will be sent illicitly to Syria or Iran." The
Wisconsin Report also noted that Boeing and Hexcel have been cited
in the past for multiple violations of export controls.
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