DOT APPROVES DHL’s FORWARDING LICENSE

DOT APPROVES DHLÆS FORWARDING LICENSE    The U.S. Department of Transportation turned down a petition lodged by United Parcel Service to cancel the registration of DHL Worldwide Express as a foreign freight forwarder.
   UPS had argued that the German postal service, Deutsche Post AG, the majority owner of a holding company that owns DHL Airways and DHL Worldwide Express, would use its monopoly mail profits to allow DHL to engage in predatory pricing in the United States.
   DOT said there is no evidence to show that DHL is competing or will compete unfairly with U.S. companies. The department did say it could act in the future if there are specific allegations of unfair competition.
   The DOT also declined to initiate a formal investigation into the citizenship of DHL Airways. But the DOT said it would continue its informal review of the cargo carrier to make sure it remains U.S. based, as defined by law.
   “We have an affirmative responsibility to make sure that competition continues to protect the interest of consumers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. “While we are denying these petitions, we will continue to ensure that competition in our aviation markets remains fair.”