[josdegr]

Like we have nothing else to worry about. Now we have to deal with tariffs on cheap underwear.

U.S. Limiting Chinese Clothing Imports

May 18, 4:41 PM (ET)

By JEANNINE AVERSA

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration said Wednesday it will impose new limits on imports of clothing from China. The action follows complaints that a surge of Chinese apparel to the United States was hurting U.S. companies.

The administration will restrict a number of items that China can ship to the United States: men's and boys cotton and man-made fiber shirts, man-made fiber trousers, man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses and combed cotton yarn that China.

American retailers are concerned that the move will raise the prices of these goods for U.S. consumers.

The government committee, led by the Commerce Department, that decided to set the new quotas found that those categories of imports threatened to disrupt the U.S. market.

In an earlier sign of the trade tensions between the two countries, the administration last week said it was re-imposing quotas on three categories of clothing imports from China - cotton trousers, cotton knit shirts and underwear.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Wednesday's decision "demonstrates the administration's continued commitment to America's textile manufacturers and their employees."

The United States, he said, "will enforce our trade agreements to ensure that U.S. companies get a fair deal as they compete in the global marketplace."

America's trade deficit with China set a record last year, $162 billion. That was the largest imbalanced ever with a single country.

The administration on Tuesday stepped up pressure on China to overhaul its currency system, which critics blame for the soaring U.S. trade deficit and the loss of American factory jobs.

The Treasury Department threatened to brand China, if it failed to change its currency policy soon, as a manipulator of currency. That designation could lead to economic penalties against Beijing.

Over the past two years, the administration has tried to prod China to stop linking its currency, the yuan, to the U.S. dollar.

American manufacturers say China's system has undervalued the yuan by as much as 40 percent. The weaker yuan makes Chinese goods cheaper in the United States and American products more expensive in China.

U.S. Limiting Chinese Clothing Imports

[ChrisJones]

I find this quite funny. Isn't it ironic that the US is beating on about the free market economy and capitolism, however when another country can make a product cheaper and quick than you lot you (Right wingers I mean) all start moaning that they have an unfair advantage and they should have tarrifs put on their products! It's simple economics. They can make a product cheaper and quicker than you. You have lost competitive advantage. That's your problem not China's! Didn't anyone in power over there study economics?

[Wino]

Originally Posted by ChrisJones

I find this quite funny. Isn't it ironic that the US is beating on about the free market economy and capitolism, however when another country can make a product cheaper and quick than you lot you (Right wingers I mean) all start moaning that they have an unfair advantage and they should have tarrifs put on their products! It's simple economics. They can make a product cheaper and quicker than you. You have lost competitive advantage. That's your problem not China's! Didn't anyone in power over there study economics?

Obviously, not. So we change the source of these items from China to Bangladesh.........reduces our trade deficit with China an infinitesimal amount, but increases Bangladesh by huge amount, which is good for the Deshu's........but nothing has changed for the USA......our trade deficit continues to spiral out of control.....the Commerce Dept. pacifies the textile industry (or should I say pays 'lip service', nada mas). We've done the same with steel and cement (both big mistakes) and now we have a shortage of both commodities, pay considerably more for them than previously..........even though the tariffs have been dropped.....these items much more critical than shirts, pants and knickers. Levi, Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, Farah, none (to my knowledge) still manufacturer clothing in the US .....due to labor rates............the American worker and consumer ran them out of the country.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by Wino

the American worker and consumer ran them out of the country.

Unions are the main problem there.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by ChrisJones

I find this quite funny. Isn't it ironic that the US is beating on about the free market economy and capitolism, however when another country can make a product cheaper and quick than you lot you (Right wingers I mean) all start moaning that they have an unfair advantage and they should have tarrifs put on their products! It's simple economics. They can make a product cheaper and quicker than you. You have lost competitive advantage. That's your problem not China's! Didn't anyone in power over there study economics?

Ha, the reason the US can't make products cheaper is because of Unions, High Taxes, etc, supported by you lot (Left wingers I mean)

[Wino]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Unions are the main problem there.

You'll get no argument from me................I was attempting not to be called a name by some union jerk, so left out the reference.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by Wino

You'll get no argument from me................

What have you done with Wino?

[jaye944]

cheap underwear is going down !

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by Gibble

Ha, the reason the US can't make products cheaper is because of Unions, High Taxes, etc, supported by you lot (Left wingers I mean)

Pining to live in china again are you gibble?

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by bassetman

Pining to live in china again are you gibble?

Again? What? Lay off the bong man...you're grasping rather than making up a logical argument.

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by jaye944

cheap underwear is going down !

LOL

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by Gibble

Again? What? Lay off the bong man...you're grasping rather than making up a logical argument.

I was doing nothing more than observing what appreared to be your desire to live in a developing country.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by bassetman

I was doing nothing more than observing what appreared to be your desire to live in a developing country.

Seriously, where do you observe that, explain this thought process to me?

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by Gibble

Ha, the reason the US can't make products cheaper is because of Unions, High Taxes, etc, supported by you lot (Left wingers I mean)

HOW MANY TIMES???? I'm not LEFT WING!!! I'm right-wing relative to UK politics! Which, granted, probably makes me look like a "leftie" to you! but PLEASE remember our political parties are much closer to the political centre compared to the US.

It's not just unions that are the cause. Although I do agree they are a causal factor. What about the "greedy" american consumer who wants more for less? We have the same problem here in the UK everyone wants everything at knockdown prices. In an effort to meet these demands for lower prices companies have to out source abroad in order to meet the price points the stores want to hit.

In this case, it's just simple economics. China can produce the goods cheaper than companies in the US, in order to fill their shelves with the cheapest goods possible Shops have to choose do I buy American and pay $1 for a pair of pants (and I mean Pants in the British meaning: underwear, not your silly American way of calling trousers "pants" as well! ) or do I go to China and pay $1 for four pairs of pants? That's the choice. If the American consumer said "No, I'm gonna buy American and pay more" the shops would be forced to stock American made products. IF the American Consumer wants to pay less for their clothing, in order to meet the demand for cheaper clothing, the shops will be foreced to buy in from abroad. It's not really the fault of unions or taxes either. Sure they don't help, but the main problem is simply the American standard of living, it's no one's fault in particular. But people in the US want some sort of standard of living, if people in the US wanted to work for $1 a day they'd still be making the clothes there, but they dont' therefore companies have gone abroad.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by ChrisJones

HOW MANY TIMES???? I'm not LEFT WING!!! I'm right-wing relative to UK politics! Which, granted, probably makes me look like a "leftie" to you! but PLEASE remember our political parties are much closer to the political centre compared to the US.

It's not just unions that are the cause. Although I do agree they are a causal factor. What about the "greedy" american consumer who wants more for less? We have the same problem here in the UK everyone wants everything at knockdown prices. In an effort to meet these demands for lower prices companies have to out source abroad in order to meet the price points the stores want to hit.

In this case, it's just simple economics. China can produce the goods cheaper than companies in the US, in order to fill their shelves with the cheapest goods possible Shops have to choose do I buy American and pay $1 for a pair of pants (and I mean Pants in the British meaning: underwear, not your silly American way of calling trousers "pants" as well! ) or do I go to China and pay $1 for four pairs of pants? That's the choice. If the American consumer said "No, I'm gonna buy American and pay more" the shops would be forced to stock American made products. IF the American Consumer wants to pay less for their clothing, in order to meet the demand for cheaper clothing, the shops will be foreced to buy in from abroad. It's not really the fault of unions or taxes either. Sure they don't help, but the main problem is simply the American standard of living, it's no one's fault in particular. But people in the US want some sort of standard of living, if people in the US wanted to work for $1 a day they'd still be making the clothes there, but they dont' therefore companies have gone abroad.

It's the unions fault for forcing the cost of an employee to be so high...and I'm not talking strictly wages, but all the additional costs employees cost their employer...without unions these lower skilled jobs would be less enticing to the middle aged workers, who should be getting SKILLED jobs, leaving these jobs to the teenagers who just need a job, and thus the wages would be more competitive with a world market. The problem is the middle aged unskilled labour wants to be able to support themselves and a family on their job as well...and the Union makes it possible.

Hmm...that sounds heartless, but hopefully people know what I mean...I'll try and rephrase.

Comsumers want deals. Employees want a good wage. Unions facilitate the latter. Now, while everyone should be entitiled to a fair wage, I think it's unfair that an unskilled labourer costs more than they are worth, simply due to a union. Unskilled jobs should not be filled by the middle aged, who by that point should be SKILLED and in better jobs that deserve the additional cost per employee and allow them to support themselves and their families. The unskilled jobs should be solely for the teenagers/students to facilitate them through their skill acquisition so they can move up into the skilled bracket. If the system worked in such a manner, costs to produce products remains more competitive, and the local markets stay competitive with those overseas.