Unfair trade boosts joblessness

Unfair trade boosts joblessness

Your April 15 news story about persistent unemployment (“Obama signs jobless-aid bill”) illustrates why we must ensure that economic competitors abide by the rules of free trade. That’s not been the case when it comes to Europe and aircraft maker Airbus, particularly in the battle to build a new Air Force refueling tanker.

Airbus is expected to bid on this prize $35 billion Pentagon contract. But Europe pumped $15 billion worth of illegal subsidies into Airbus, according to a recent World Trade Organization ruling, including $5 billion into the very plane they’re attempting to sell to U.S. taxpayers.

At the same time, the E.U. regularly blocks U.S. firms (and workers) from their defense markets. This is part of a decade-long effort to provide France’s Airbus consortium with an illegal upper-hand using protectionist practices, which have helped the E.U. steal tens of thousands of American jobs.

It takes hubris for the French and Airbus to attempt to sell us their subsidized plane and to demand unfettered access to our markets even as they slam the door in the face of U.S. firms.

Voters swept President Obama into office on the promise of holding corporations accountable. His promise should apply to foreign corporations as well so we can stem the tide of job losses and get out economy back on track.

Robert E. Scott, Washington

The writer is senior international economist for the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

Covelli Centre, source of good news

Eric Ryan is to be commend- ed for his hard work and dedication to the Covelli Centre and to the Youngstown community as a whole.

Keep the positive news flowing.

Phyllis Ricchiuti, Poland