DHL Express’ plan to use Atlanta-based United Parcel Service Inc. for its U.S. air cargo operations does not constitute unfair competition, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Wednesday, according to a report by the Dayton Daily News.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher had written to Peters, asking the Department of Transportation to block the deal, announced by DHL’s parent Deutsche Post AG in May.

DHL’s air cargo shipping and sorting operations are currently handled by ABX Air Inc. and ASTAR Air Cargo at DHL’s airport in Wilmington, Ohio. If UPS takes over the operation, moving its Worldport hub at Louisville International Airport, Wilmington will lose more than 8,000 jobs, Strickland and Fisher argued.

“While I understand your concerns over Deutsche Post AG’s proposed restructuring of DHL, it is our view that this restructuring would not constitute an unfair or deceptive practice or unfair method of competition,” Peters responded, according to the newspaper.