Some REALLY Whacky new trade legislation

July 01, 2009

We don’t take sides on legislation but we can’t resist the weight of common sense. This is one the most far fetched, out-of-left-field proposals I’ve read coming out of DC in my life. Now, if you were to substitute ‘DR-CAFTA’ everywhere it says Philippines in the following creative writing exercise, THEN maybe you would be onto something.

Here’s my highlights:

McDermott noted, “that the United States and the Philippines have "mutually benefited from strong economic and cultural ties that date back many decades," until that pesky decade when they booted us out of Clark AFB and other mutual agreements.

This one cracks me up, “McDermott, a member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, said the Philippines represents a "tremendous economic potential and enduring political and security significance to the United States." Really?

I particularly slowed WAY down to make sure I understood each and every word of this staggering new insight, “....and for the first time, US textile manufacturers would have a program that utilizes sewing done in an Asian country.”

By the way, this is a hard kick in the butt of supply chains intertwined in this entire hemisphere including and especially factories in the US. I think some of you out there know the real story behind this. I do but I’m not in a position to broadcast it...........suffice it to say somebody paid somebody a LOT of money to come up with this, and I know some of the guys who collected on it.

Trade Bill Designed To Boost Textile Exports
James A. Morrissey, Washington Correspondent
Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., has introduced legislation that would permit duty-free entry into the United States of apparel made in the Philippines, provided it contains yarn and fabric made in the Philippines or the United States. Its provisions are similar to the yarn-forward requirement in a number of US free trade agreements (FTAs).

In introducing the legislation, McDermott, a member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, said the Philippines represents a "tremendous economic potential and enduring political and security significance to the United States."

The bill says the United States and the Philippines share the same concerns and challenges stemming from the removal of textile and apparel quotas worldwide and the import safeguards guards covering US/Chinese trade. It also notes that the US apparel industry is heavily dependent on sewing operations outside of the United States, and for the first time, US textile manufacturers would have a program that utilizes sewing done in an Asian country. The United States has negotiated an FTA with South Korea, but it is bogged down in Congress in view of strong opposition from US automobile and textile manufacturers and others in this country as well as from agricultural interests in Korea.

The law would grant duty-free treatment to apparel products wholly assembled in the Philippines, provided they are made from US or Filipino yarn and fabric. It specifies a wide range of products including men's and boys' shirts, shorts, underwear and trousers; and women's and girls' skirts, shorts, blouses, slacks, brassieres and swimwear.

Noting that the United States and the Philippines have "mutually benefited from strong economic and cultural ties that date back many decades," McDermott pointed to a sharp decline in trade in recent years. He said apparel imports from the Philippines have fallen by almost $1 billion since 2000, and US textile exports to the Philippines amounted to only about $20 million last year.

Kevin M. Burke, president and CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, strongly endorsed the McDermott bill, saying, "Our efforts to tear down barriers to trade will strengthen the relationship we share with our 30th-largest trading partner while working to benefit our textile and apparel industries."

Peter B. Favila, secretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, also endorsed the legislation and urged Congress to approve it "as soon as possible."

June 30, 2009