A4A commends US Senate Commerce Committee for approving anti-EU ETS bill

Airlines for America (A4A) commended (31-Jul-2012) the US Senate Commerce Committee for approving a bill that would allow the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit US aircraft operators from participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) because the scheme "violates US sovereignty and international law, and imposes a burdensome tax on US airlines and consumers". The bill received bipartisan support from the committee and is similar to legislation passed by the US House of Representatives in 2011 that would direct US airlines not to participate in the scheme. Separately this week, A4A along with a coalition of 18 other industry groups called on the US to file an Article 84 action under the Chicago Convention in order to overturn the wrongful scheme and drive the EU to negotiate a resolution. ICAO has authority to address violations of the Chicago Convention and also is working to complete the global framework for aviation greenhouse gas emissions provisionally agreed at its 2010 Assembly. [more - original PR]