This allows the members of the same class to compete on an equal footing.

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Nor is merging smaller states so they can compete on an equal footing with bigger ones on the agenda.

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For the smaller US Airways, it was a chance to bulk up to compete on an equal footing with the big domestic carriers on the tarmac, United and Delta.

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"Trade enforcement is critical for ensuring that our clean energy goods and services can compete on an equal footing around the world, " said Ron Kirk, the US Trade Representative.

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"Unfortunately this decision forces us to intervene on fundamental areas of the car's design in order to be able to compete on an equal footing with some of the teams, " he told the Press Association.

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