EU Emissions Plan Gets a Frosty Reception

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), acting chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, accused John Bruton, the European Union’s Ambassador to the U.S., of “looking for a trade war” during a hearing on aviation emissions May 7. The spat began when DeFazio questioned an EU proposal that would force airlines flying from Los Angeles to London to pay carbon allowances to the EU for the entire 6,000 miles. When asked where the money would go, Bruton said it would improve the EU ATC system. “You want to tax our airlines to make your air traffic system more efficient?” asked DeFazio. “You are looking for a trade war.”