A move to Protect American Industry
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics WriterFri May 13,10:59 PM ET
The Bush administration is re-imposing quotas on three categories of clothing imports from China, responding to complaints from domestic producers that a surge of Chinese imports was threatening thousands of U.S. jobs.
The administration action will impose limits on the amount of cotton trousers, cotton knit shirts and underwear that China can ship to this country. American retailers say that will drive up prices for U.S. consumers.
In announcing the decision Friday, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said a government investigation had found that a surge in shipments from China since global quotas were eliminated on Jan. 1 was disrupting the domestic market.
The decision was made by the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, an interagency group led by the Commerce Department.
"Today's action by CITA demonstrates this administration's commitment to leveling the playing field for U.S. industry by enforcing our trade agreements," Gutierrez said in a statement.
It's about time we looked at the subversive nature of the trade imbalance that China favors in our own economy. As we are all to aware of China basicsally is undermineing the economy of the United States by flooding the markets with its products. Products that are manufactured at below market wages and shipped here to undercut products made in America.
those who oppose this inititive say the following.
U.S. retailers had fought against the re-imposition of quotas on China, arguing that it will mean higher costs for American consumers.
Laura Jones, executive director of the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel, said the administration was going ahead with the action even though the latest trade data showed that clothing and textile imports from China actually declined in March after surging in January and February. She said the administration chose to ignore all the comments filed by U.S. retailers arguing against the action.
The key note I feel should be made that RETAILERS the middle markup man are againsts this. I looked around and saw no savings to the consumer by purchaseing Chinese made products versus American made products. Leading to only this conclusion that the retail marketers enjoy the high profiet margins afforded them by Chinese products. Passing on absolutely no to very little savings to the American consumer. In troubled times do we not need to think of our industries? The artical continues,
Domestic textile and clothing makers argued that they faced the prospect of losing thousands of jobs unless something was done to stem the flow of products from China.
"The fast action to re-impose quotas by the Bush administration today has saved thousands of textile jobs in this country and we are extremely grateful," said Cass Johnson, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations. "The U.S. government has sent a strong message that it understands the real crisis that these enormous surges present to our workers."
Earlier this week, the council announced its support for the administration's drive to get Congress to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement, covering the Dominican Republic and five Central American countries.
Critics of the trade pact have accused the administration of offering to re-impose quotas on Chinese textiles as a way of appeasing lawmakers from textile districts. The administration has said the textile cases would be decided on their merits.
The American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, another big textile industry group which refused to back CAFTA, praised the administration's action in the Chinese cases.
For more read this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050514/ap_on_bi_ge/textile_cases_13&printer=1
The Bush administration is re-imposing quotas on three categories of clothing imports from China, responding to complaints from domestic producers that a surge of Chinese imports was threatening thousands of U.S. jobs.
The administration action will impose limits on the amount of cotton trousers, cotton knit shirts and underwear that China can ship to this country. American retailers say that will drive up prices for U.S. consumers.
In announcing the decision Friday, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said a government investigation had found that a surge in shipments from China since global quotas were eliminated on Jan. 1 was disrupting the domestic market.
The decision was made by the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, an interagency group led by the Commerce Department.
"Today's action by CITA demonstrates this administration's commitment to leveling the playing field for U.S. industry by enforcing our trade agreements," Gutierrez said in a statement.
It's about time we looked at the subversive nature of the trade imbalance that China favors in our own economy. As we are all to aware of China basicsally is undermineing the economy of the United States by flooding the markets with its products. Products that are manufactured at below market wages and shipped here to undercut products made in America.
those who oppose this inititive say the following.
U.S. retailers had fought against the re-imposition of quotas on China, arguing that it will mean higher costs for American consumers.
Laura Jones, executive director of the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel, said the administration was going ahead with the action even though the latest trade data showed that clothing and textile imports from China actually declined in March after surging in January and February. She said the administration chose to ignore all the comments filed by U.S. retailers arguing against the action.
The key note I feel should be made that RETAILERS the middle markup man are againsts this. I looked around and saw no savings to the consumer by purchaseing Chinese made products versus American made products. Leading to only this conclusion that the retail marketers enjoy the high profiet margins afforded them by Chinese products. Passing on absolutely no to very little savings to the American consumer. In troubled times do we not need to think of our industries? The artical continues,
Domestic textile and clothing makers argued that they faced the prospect of losing thousands of jobs unless something was done to stem the flow of products from China.
"The fast action to re-impose quotas by the Bush administration today has saved thousands of textile jobs in this country and we are extremely grateful," said Cass Johnson, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations. "The U.S. government has sent a strong message that it understands the real crisis that these enormous surges present to our workers."
Earlier this week, the council announced its support for the administration's drive to get Congress to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement, covering the Dominican Republic and five Central American countries.
Critics of the trade pact have accused the administration of offering to re-impose quotas on Chinese textiles as a way of appeasing lawmakers from textile districts. The administration has said the textile cases would be decided on their merits.
The American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, another big textile industry group which refused to back CAFTA, praised the administration's action in the Chinese cases.
For more read this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050514/ap_on_bi_ge/textile_cases_13&printer=1
