Textile industry bands together

The High Point Enterprise ^ | June 12, 2003 | Michele Abbott

[Willie Green]

Related thread: Textile industry rage: `Made in China'

[Onelifetogive]

Augustine Tantillo, AMTAC's Washington coordinator, noted that when restrictions were lifted on 29 textile categories, Chinese exports rose by 600 percent on every description. Adding to the mix, U.S. officials then took more than a year to establish safeguard procedures intended to allow a protest venue for American manufacturers to show cause why those restrictions should be reimposed.

Where do Americans get these silly notions of having the freedom to purchase any product they choose? The government and "impartial" individuals such as Mr. Tantillo are in a much better position to decide which products Americans should be allowed to purchase!

[jagrmeister]

The cost to protect each textile industry job makes all others pale in comparison- the price tag is roughly $1 mil. Yes, you heard me right. This comes straight out of an economics textbook. Let's do the right thing: let the free hand of economic competition sort it out, and let's offer re-training to the textile employees here so they can find new jobs. Protectionism- unless there are serious mitigating circumstances such as dumping- does not work.

[RussianConservative]

One aspect free trade is equal tarrifs. China charge high tarrif on import, insisting all factories built in china and nothing imported, while export everything to everyone. This not fair trade, not in US, not in Russia, not in EU.

[RussianConservative]

Let me ask question, what is cost of having free government that can do what needed and not black mailed by another that cut off all supply? Besides, China not practice free trade or free economic. It uses slave labor and blocks import of all but highest tech it can't get. What it can't think up, it steals and reverse engineers...Russian military hardware.

[GOP_1900AD]

Embargo the Axis (PRC, DPRK, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, France, Germany, Libya, Zimbabwe, S. Africa, Congo, Angola, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Laos).

[Onelifetogive]

One aspect free trade is equal tarrifs.

Your definition of "unfree" trade is Chinese people working their butts off so that I can have 4 TVs and 3 DVD Players while they can't afford any. The Chinese are killing themselves trying to raise my standard of living. This is terrible! It must be stopped!

[Onelifetogive]

and let's offer re-training to the textile employees here so they can find new jobs.

I sat in public school next to many "future textile workers." They made little effort to benefit from the last time they were offered free training.

[Onelifetogive]

Protectionism- unless there are serious mitigating circumstances such as dumping- does not work.

Let's suppose for a minute you are looking for a used car. Someone desperately needs to get rid of just the one you want. He offers it to you for about 1/2 of wholesale. Should you be allowed to buy it??

What about the other people who are attempting to sell you a car at retail. It is not fair to them. He should NOT be allowed to dump his car on the market and harm other sellers.

[Onelifetogive]

The Chinese are killing themselves trying to raise my standard of living. This is terrible! It must be stopped!

Twenty years ago it was the Japanese that all of the "protectionists" used to justify their attempts to limit MY freedom. There will always be someone willing to work hard and people who aren't willing to work hard will resent them and attempt to curtail MY freedom to deal with them.

[GOP_1900AD]

But did the Japanese have an increasing number of WMDs pointed at you?

[Onelifetogive]

But did the Japanese have an increasing number of WMDs pointed at you?

Good point!

[RussianConservative]

Excuse me, how your standard living rise when you unemployed? As for trade, yes, no safety guarentee, no vacation/pregnancy leave or any such...massive uneducated starving work force...sure easy, specially when all imports banned...you not bother to mention that little part in counter argument...tarrifs make problem breaking into Japanese market look small. China not import from anyone products, except hi military Russian tech it can't copy or Russian oil. All else it bans.

[RussianConservative]

Sure, no future oil for you...you can continue to be used by Islamic Arabs. Oh, and that new gasoline refinery Russian firms build in America, dismantle, fire everyone, right? Wait till you see American standard of living when US must pump own oil at $40+/ barrel...have fun. Also, watch American exporters go out business when US products in Europe banned. Make real nice economy.

[Weimdog]

Working on the design side, I know that in thast 10 years, my company has gone from manufacturing 100% of our product in the U.S. to roughly 5% in the U.S.

Hong Kong, China, and India are one stop shopping for apparel companies. We send them the design and 30 days later we have a completed garment sample, 60 days after that, we have product in our warehouse ready to ship to our customers. We used to have to wait 30 days just for fabric from U.S. mills.

The real problem with the American textile companies was their slow reaction to this Asian "vertical" business model. Many U.S. firms would still be in business if they could deliver a finished product rather than just the fabric.

Admittedly, price has been a huge factor as well. With more and more people shopping the WalMart's of the world, demanding $9.99 shirts, they shopped themselves right out of a job.

[Onelifetogive]

Excuse me, how your standard living rise when you unemployed?

To be unemployed in the country means that you have done something wrong. I know plenty of businesses that can't find enough employees with an insurable driving record, no criminal convictions, a reasonable work ethic and the ability to add two numbers. Businesses that will pay $15 - $20 plus plenty of overtime ($50-$60K/year with room to grow.)

[RussianConservative]

So peoples whose company move to India from America all done something wrong? Why US tech unemployement so high? I read US unemployment rate highest in 9 years and still growing...hmmm.

[Onelifetogive]

So peoples whose company move to India from America all done something wrong?

Did they possess marketable skills in multiple industries? Are they willing to go to where a job is? I have earned several college degrees, moved to two states, studied and earned two professional licenses, and have never had any trouble finding multiple offers in high-tech (and not so high-tech) industries. I don't see the unemployment. I have worked in manufacturing, engineering and consulting. It's difficult to find good people.

You want to make $80K a year with no education, attaching bolts on an assembly line - good luck. Are you willing to learn the skills that are in demand today and learn something else in a few years. You'll have no problems.

[y2k_free_radical]

IT'S ABOUT TIME

[y2k_free_radical]

You are dreaming