22, 1985
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LADOUR DATA SHOWS THAT, DESPITE THE DECLINE IN EMPLOYMENT, THE EARNINGS OF WORKERS ACTUALLY INCREASED BY 2.5 PER CENT IN THE U.S. TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND BY 3.5 PER CENT IN THE APPAREL INDUSTRY ON AVERAGE PER YEAR BETWEEN 1980 AND 1984.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DATA INDICATES AN AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT IN AFTER-TAX PROFITS FOR THE U.S. TEXTILE INDUSTRY DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
* PRODUCTIVITY GAINS BROUGHT ABOUT BY TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCES, RATHER THAN IMPORTS, HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR DECLINING EMPLOYMENT IN TEXTILES AND APPAREL. LABOUR SHEDDING IN TEXTILES HAS BEEN MUCH GREATER THAN IN APPAREL, AVERAGING THREE PER CENT A YEAR VERSUS CNE PER CENT FROM 1980 TO 1284. THE REVERSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE HAD IMPORTS BEEN TO BLAME FOR JOB LOSSES AS IMPORT PENETRATION IN APPAREL HAS BEEN MUCH HIGHER AND MORE RAPID THAN IN TEXTILES.
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THE BILL HIGHLIGHTS PLANT CLOSINGS AND JOB LOSSES IN THE LESS COMPETITIVE TEXTILES AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY BRANCHES WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE FIRMS ENTERING AND JOBS CREATED IN OTHER MORE COMPETITIVI SECTORS.
THE INCREASE IN THE U.S. TRADE DEFICIT IN TEXTILES AND APPAREL FROM 1983 TO 1984 MUST BE SEEN AGAINST THE VERY MUCH LARGER INCREASE IN THE OVERALL MERCHANDISE TRADE DEFICIT DURING THE SAME PERIOD - CAUSED PRIMARILY BY THE STRONG DOLLAR, THE FASTER GROWTH OF THE U.S. ECONOMY RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AND REDUCED EXPORTS TO DEBT-RIDDEN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. FOUR-FIFTHS OF THE INCREASE IN THE OVERALL MERCHANDISE DEFICIT WAS ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE INCREASE IN THE TRADE DEFICIT IN MANUFACTURES OTHER THAN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING, BULK OF WHICH WAS WITH DEVELOPED TRADING PARTNERS.
THE
THE ARGUMENT BY THE BILL'S SUPPORTERS THAT EXISTING IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE DOES NOT STAND UP, SAY THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. TEXTILES AND CLOTHING IMPORTS FROM ALL SOURCES PEAKED IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1984 AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING SINCE WITH THE BRUNT OF THE DECLINE BORNE BY THE RESTRICTED SUPPLIERS AS A RESULT OF INTENSIFICATION OF DISCRIMINATORY RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DEVELOPI
COUNTRIES.
IMPORTS FROM MEA DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DURING THE PERI OCTOBER 1984 TO MARCH 1985 DECLINED FOUR PER CENT AS CC-PARED WIT THE SAME PERIOD THE PRECEDING YEAR - WHILE IMPORT FROM KON- RESTRAINED SUPPLIERS, THE EC, EFTA AND CANADA, 35 PER CENT.
I
CRE-C