Lee Metcalf: “the objection of the European Union to the merger of the McDonnell Douglas and the Boeing Co. is unreasonable and will…”

“the objection of the European Union to the merger of the McDonnell Douglas and the Boeing Co. is unreasonable and will not be tolerated. These two wholly owned American companies intend to merge early next month. The review reputedly conducted by the European Commission was, in fact, controlled by Airbus Industries and its member nations. The decision by the EC is threatening the U.S.- European relationship. If it continues, it will have damaging effects now and into the future. The stand of the European Union is unacceptable for several reasons. First, the parties involved are both wholly owned United States companies with a global customer base. Second, the objections raised by the European Union regarding the abandonment of exclusive contracts awarded to Boeing is inappropriate. Airbus Industries was an eligible competitor for each of the three contracts and was not awarded them based on the decisions by the specific companies. Airbus never objected to carrier requests to make contracts exclusive in return for reduced prices until they lost out in the contract. In fact, even the European Commission objected only after the agreements were concluded. It is inappropriate to risk United States jobs because the free market worked its will.”