Posted on 12/11/2004 1:58:14 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
For anyone who still doubts how far the American textile industry will go to avoid competition, consider this: Domestic manufacturers have already run to the government for protection - now - against Chinese export increases that have not even happened yet. Fortunately, Liz Claiborne, J. C. Penney and dozens of other United States retailers are fighting back and have filed suit to stop the Bush administration from moving forward on these whiny manufacturers' requests to impose new limits on clothing from China.
The retailers want the United States Court of International Trade to issue an injunction blocking the Commerce Department and four other federal agencies from considering nine petitions from domestic textile manufacturers. This is all a prelude to what promises to be a bloody fight next year over access to the American and European textile markets, which have been tightly controlled through a complex system of import quotas. In the United States, the quotas limited clothing imports from big, efficient and cheaper textile producers in China, in order to protect the dying domestic textile industry. For years, instead of focusing on retraining textile workers in the Carolinas, both Democratic and Republican administrations - from Ronald Reagan's to George H. W. Bush's to Bill Clinton's to George W. Bush's - have tried to keep less expensive made-in-China clothing away from Americans.
That world is supposed to change come Jan. 1. Thanks to the 1994 agreement that also established the World Trade Organization, the whole quota system is kaput in three weeks. For the first time, nearly all countries will be allowed to ship any quantities of textiles and clothing they choose to the United States and Europe.
Unsurprising, the domestic American industry is doing everything it can think of to hold back time. It strong-armed the Clinton administration back in 1999 into negotiating a surge protection clause with the Chinese, which stipulates that America can impose quotas if Chinese exports really spike. The domestic manufacturers have now invoked the clause.
Excuse us. It's not even Jan. 1 yet. The domestics are invoking their protectionist clause based on the threat of a surge, or more accurately the fear of a surge, and not on an actual surge. That's like throwing Indiana Pacers players into jail before a fan even tosses any beer at them.
The Bush administration should not be accepting any domestic petitions until well after the new system goes into effect. Moving forward on the industry's petitions, as the administration is doing, signals China and the world that America is still picking and choosing which free trade pacts it will honor, and which ones it will ignore.
Clothing? I have American brand name winter jackets but they're both made in China. Chances are just about any product you buy these days comes from the Middle Kingdom.
"For years, instead of focusing on retraining textile workers in the Carolinas, both Democratic and Republican administrations - from Ronald Reagan's to George H. W. Bush's to Bill Clinton's to George W. Bush's - have tried to keep less expensive made-in-China clothing away from Americans."
I am tired of the cheaply made clothing that fall apart after the first washing.
I would much rather pay more for quality. And better yet American made.
I just bought a couple of new sweatshirts and they were made in Mexico.
Most Americans who buy merchandise want high quality as long as its affordable. They don't care where its made as long as it lasts.
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of all the a-z Chinese imports for purchase on our retailers' shelves. Just bought a child's toy at Kmart and of course upon opening the package, its mechanics didn't work! Looked at the packaging, should have known without looking, it read "Made in China." Spent $1.95 in a gallon of gas and about $12.00 in manpower work hours to return it to Kmart, was asked did I want to exchange it for another? "NO WAY, Give me my money back!" Next time I'll whittle an old fashion slingshot from a tree branch and get something that works well and a happy little kid.
What's this, the NYSlimes is in favor of out-sourcing?
The HORROR! :^)
It's all about protectionism, it's waaaay toooo late for the U.S. textile industry it's been gone for at least a decade.
Yeah, I can remember when we were that way about steel too. A few years ago we we flooded with cheap steel, crippling our steel industry. Now that our major steel mills are gone the price has jumped out of sight. What a remarkable coincidence!
The United States is fattening up it;s future enemies, so we can fail with our downsized armies. We are sure to fail.
second "we" = were
I got your commitment to failure ~ enjoy your misery ~ I'm not sharing it with you.
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