[hedgetrimmer]

In interviews, several Chinese women said they could go home to do the same sewing job in China, but for 30 cents an hour, or 10 percent of Saipan's $3.05 wage rate. Or they could stay in Saipan, where the most lucrative option is a furtive life of hunting male tourists who will pay $50 for a "special massage."

Ain't free trade grand?

"I believe garments are 65 percent of the economy," Alex Sablan, president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, said.

In the name of "free trade" the Islands' economy has just been devastated. Note that Saipan has been trading with the US with no tariffs. By favoring China, and the removal of the tariffs favoratism for the communist nation, the free traders have devastated an American territory.

According to the manufacturers association, the clothing industry spends almost $50 million on the island for food, gasoline, supplies, land leases, insurance and freight. Taxes collected amount to $70 million, or a third of the commonwealth budget.

[hedgetrimmer]

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[Laz711]

I agree with you, but Saipan is not a territory. It is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a Federal Protectorate [sp]. It is close to Guam (where I currently live until Monday), which is a territory. The fact that we are allowing this to happen is absurd, these islands need all of the business that America can give them, they are dirt poor and Guam, the jewel of Micronesia, is (IMHO) just barely above third world level (think some of the areas in Mexico around tourist spots, that is what Guam is like)