SANCTIONS ON BRITISH CARRIERS LOOMING

SANCTIONS ON BRITISH CARRIERS LOOMING    Leaders from both political parties in the U.S. Congress and the Clinton Administration say British air carriers may face stiff sanctions unless the U.K. government moves to liberalize aviation trade between the two countries.
   Warnings were voiced repeatedly at a special hearing called by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bud Shuster, R-Pa., to address the breakdown in U.S.-U.K. negotiations.
   Measures, that would include barring flights by British carriers to the United States, are not beyond the pale, and are under consideration, Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater said in response to a question from Shuster, who outlined possible remedies in a letter sent to the DOT Secretary a few days before the hearing.
   “We will have to explore all of our options,” Slater said. And the DOT “will be working closely with the White House” to try to resolve the problems.
   The DOT will focus on the situation in March, when Slater returns from aviation and maritime talks in Asia, the DOT said.
      Shuster and others indicated time was running out on the British to come around and work towards an open-skies agreement between the two nations. Unless some signs of progress emerge, Shuster said he “will not be timid” on including sanctions against British air carriers in aviation legislation due for a vote in Congress soon.