>Maybe someone else has a brighter idea?

I don't know about brighter, but how about:

IF USED("a_table")
  USE IN a_table
ENDIF
USE anytable ALIAS a_table IN 0

y = AFIELDS(la_fields)

SELECT a_table
SET TEXTMERGE TO export.txt
SET TEXTMERGE ON NOSHOW
SCAN
  FOR x = 1 TO y
    \\ <<PADL(EVAL(la_fields[x,1]),la_fields[x,3])>>
    IF x # y
      \\ <<CHR(9)>>
    ENDIF
  ENDFOR
  \
ENDSCAN
SET TEXTMERGE OFF
SET TEXTMERGE TO

USE IN a_table

HTH,
Bill