SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Photo: Pixabay.

United States space companies are hoping to get more help against foreign competitors through financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, a federal lending agency that SpaceX pointed to on Thursday as a substantial supporter in recent years.

“To-date, EXIM has been very supportive of SpaceX’s effort to win international business and we’re grateful for that … because we are primarily competing against state-backed launch service providers,” SpaceX commercial sales director Stephanie Bednarek said during a teleconference.

“I think it’s fair to say that SpaceX may view EXIM as an extension of our sales force and an asset that’s really critical to help us win international business,” Bednarek added.

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