Machinists urge U.S. to halt technology transfers to China
WASHINGTON, 11 Jan. 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,” says Buffenbarger. “We find it very difficult to believe that your actions are good for U.S. workers or the U.S. economy.”
When are we going to learn? You don’t give China shit. They will exploit it to no end. It isn’t just about jobs, this is about national security.
