Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO DEMONSTRATE THE CONCERN OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA'S TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND TO EXPRESS THE OPINION OF THE MEMBERS THAT ACTION BE TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO RESCIND THE U.S.-VIETNAM BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON TEXTILES.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly appreciate the work of the members of the United States Congress and of the President of this nation and generally support those individuals in making significant decisions affecting the country and this State; and
Whereas, the United States Congress and the President established an agreement with Vietnam that was effective beginning May 1, 2003, to put quotas on thirty-eight categories of clothing and textiles with the purpose of reducing the importation of goods from Vietnam; and
Whereas, though our national officers were attempting to aid this country's business industries, many local executives feel that the quotas will cause great harm to both clothing and textile manufacturers and lead to a decline in available jobs in South Carolina, after the state's textile sector in the Greenville-Spartanburg area has already lost nearly 8,000 jobs from January 2001 to February 2003; and
Whereas, according to Roger Milliken, Chairman of the Spartanburg, South Carolina-based Milliken & Company and Co-chairman of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Agreement will "severely damage and further disrupt the U.S. textile and apparel industries and its nearly one million workers nationwide"; and
Whereas, Mr. Milliken also feels that the agreement allows Vietnam, "a nation which is not a member of the World Trade Organization or part of any preferential agreement, to gain an enormous share of the U.S. apparel market", with the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition expecting textile imports to grow to $1.7 billion in this year alone, comparing that to $49 million in 2001 and $952 million in 2002; and
Whereas, the General Assembly's highest priority is protecting the interests of South Carolina's citizens and businesses and supporting all efforts to boost the economy of this State; and
Whereas, the members believe that the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Agreement will destroy the remains of the textile industry in South Carolina and across the nation. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, demonstrate our concern for South Carolina's textile industry and express our opinion that action be taken by the United States Congress and the President of the United States to rescind the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Agreement on textiles.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to President George W. Bush, Senator Ernest F. Hollings, Senator Lindsey Graham, Congressman Henry Brown, Congressman J. Gresham Barrett, Congressman James E. Clyburn, Congressman Jim DeMint, Congressman John Spratt, and Congressman Joe Wilson.
This web page was last updated on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 9:46 A.M.