McCain seeks answers on UPS/DHL proposal

WILMINGTON, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain, concerned about potential job losses, pressed on Thursday for more information about a proposal for United Parcel Service to fly packages in North America for rival DHL.

The Arizona senator met with people in the political battleground state who could be impacted by potential job losses at air shippers for struggling DHL if ongoing negotiations involving UPS are finalized.

McCain joined other senate lawmakers who earlier this week called for the Bush administration to conduct an antitrust review of any UPS/DHL agreement.

Both companies believe their proposed arrangement would not warrant antitrust scrutiny.

"I am deeply troubled by the spectre of job losses coming to the town of Wilmington," McCain said.

McCain said he could not guarantee "we're going to avert this," but he promised to fight it.

He wants to hear from the "chief decision makers" at DHL parent, Germany's Deutsche Post. McCain also said he would seek a congressional hearing on the matter.

UPS said recently it was making progress on concluding the 10-year agreement to haul packages by air for DHL within the United States and between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The deal was proposed in May.  Continued...