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U.S. squeezes French-led satellite maker over China
Source: Reuters
Exclusive: U.S. squeezes French-led satellite maker over China
By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON | Thu Feb 9, 2012 1:36pm EST
(Reuters) - The United States has threatened action that could disrupt a French-led satellite maker's supply chain, spurred by suspicion that it illegally used U.S. know-how or parts in spacecraft launched by Chinese rockets.
The State Department last month quietly warned the company, Thales Alenia Space, that export licenses needed by its U.S. suppliers might be denied, absent greater cooperation in an investigation of the matter, a department email obtained by Reuters showed.
License refusals could crimp the 2 billion euros ($2.65 billion) in worldwide civil and military sales that the company, known as TAS, posted in 2010.
They also could force a costly product-line revamp and strain U.S. ties with France.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON | Thu Feb 9, 2012 1:36pm EST
(Reuters) - The United States has threatened action that could disrupt a French-led satellite maker's supply chain, spurred by suspicion that it illegally used U.S. know-how or parts in spacecraft launched by Chinese rockets.
The State Department last month quietly warned the company, Thales Alenia Space, that export licenses needed by its U.S. suppliers might be denied, absent greater cooperation in an investigation of the matter, a department email obtained by Reuters showed.
License refusals could crimp the 2 billion euros ($2.65 billion) in worldwide civil and military sales that the company, known as TAS, posted in 2010.
They also could force a costly product-line revamp and strain U.S. ties with France.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/09/us-usa-france-china-satellite-idUSTRE8181F020120209
