U.S. Rep. Mike Turner had the opportunity last week to talk to German Ambassador Dr. Klaus Scharioth about the proposed deal between DHL and the United Parcel Service (UPS) and the international implications.

While attending the Republican National Convention, Turner was a joint speaker with the German ambassador at an event called, “After the U.S. Elections: A New Transatlantic Agenda.”

“The ambassador went first and he talked about the transatlantic agenda and what we (United States) needed to do. He turned to me and the first thing I put on the board was the issue of economics,” he said.

Turner said he told Scharioth about the DHL and UPS proposal and the economic impact on the community. “I told about the 8,000 people that are losing their jobs, the families who are impacted, the health insurance that farmers are not going to have available to them and the 20 years the community has supported the facility,” he said.

“I told them of the problem that we had in a transatlantic alliance of a foreign company coming in, buying these assets and shutting it down and the relationship between UPS and DHL was becoming a large antitrust issue for both Europe and the United States.”

Turner brought up the rumors currently going on that UPS is in negotiations to buy TNT, the second largest carrier in Europe. UPS is the third largest and DHL is the largest, he said. “With DHL being in a strategic alliance with UPS, that means in Europe these three companies would become one,” Turner said.

“The ambassador agreed that this information is troubling and a government review is probably necessary.” Turner said. “I related to him that the U.S. House of Representatives is getting ready to host hearings and there would be important information that could be used to review this issue from the European side.”

The hearing for the Judiciary Committee is being held today and the Transportation Committee will hold hearings on Sept. 16.

“It was a great opportunity to be able to share with him (Scharioth) our perspective of why this transaction is not good for consumers, it’s not good for Europe and it’s not good for the United States. He seemed very interested and wants the additional information that we’re going to find in these Congressional hearings,” he said.

“Conversations with leaders like the ambassador offer us an opportunity to supply them with more information about this crucial economic issue,” Turner said. “This transaction should be examined for violations of American and European antitrust laws. I look forward to the hearings where our community will have the opportunity to hear directly from those responsible for their decision.”

Turner is a member of the economic task force composed of local, state and national leaders. He also has worked with Ohio’s Congressional Delegation to seek a Department of Justice investigation into the antitrust implications of the proposed deal. He also has brought officials from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration to Wilmington to detail what assistance would be available to the community should the proposed deal be completed.