“One is never comforted when the words “accounting”, “gimmicks” and “shenanigans” all appear together, especially when one is discussing our nation’s major international trade partners. But it’s become glaringly clear that these descriptors ring true when it comes to the three airlines owned by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. For the latest example, witness the recent discovery of Etihad Airways’ 2014 financial statements (in Hong Kong, not this country), which were found by investigators, but were never disclosed to U.S. regulators.

This lack of transparency is simply one more benefit of being cozy with the state — and reliant on its treasury. And it gives yet another point of credence to what U.S. airlines have said for months now: absent wheelbarrows of government cash in subsidies, Etihad and Qatar Airways would be unlikely to exist and Emirates’ growth would be substantially reduced.

These subsidies violate core U.S. Open Skies aviation agreements with the UAE and Qatar, and the Obama administration must act to address this serious distortion of trade.”

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