WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1985
DORWARD ATTACKS PROTECTIONISM IN THE U.S.
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HONG KONG'S COMMISSIONER IN THE UNITED STATES, MR BILL DORWARD, TOOK THE BATTLE AGAINST THE PROTECTIONIST JENKINS BILL TO THE WEST OF THE COUNTRY RECENTLY, WITH SPEECHES ATTACKING IT IN COLORADO SPRINGS, DENVER AND SAN FRANCISCO.
SPEAKING BEFORE THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE FOR FOREIGN TRADE AND FINANCE IN DENVER, COLORADO, MR DORWARD OUTLINED THE DEMANDS FOR PROTECTION FROM THE AMERICAN TEXTILE AND APPAREL
INDUSTRY.
+WITH THE HIGHEST PROTECTIVE TARIFFS AND A 25-YEAR HISTORY OF QUOTAS ON IMPORTS, THIS SECTOR HAS ENJOYED MORE AND LONGER PROTECTION THAN ANY SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. BUT IT WANTS MORE AND TO GET IT IT IS SPENDING U.S. $500 000
A MONTH ON ONE OF THE MOST INTENSIVE LOBBYING CAMPAIGNS FOR PROTECTIONIST LEGISLATION WASHINGTON HAS EVER SEEN,+ MR DORWARD TOLD THE INSTITUTE.
HE SAID THE AIM OF THE BILL WAS, IN EFFECT, TO MAKE THE CONSUMER PAY U.S. $35 000 A YEAR FOR EVERY MARGINAL U.S. $10 000 A YEAR JOB IT PRESERVED.
+ IT HAS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF THE KIND OF SHORT-SIGHTED PROTECTIONISM WHICH DEVASTATED THE WORLD ECONOMY IN THE THIRTIES.+
IF PASSED, MR DORWARD SAID, IT WOULD RESULT IN SERIOUS BREACHES OF U.S. INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, RETALIATION AGAINST U.S. EXPORTS AND A REDUCTION IN THE ABILITY OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES TO SERVICE THEIR DEBTS AND IMPORT AMERICAN GOODS.
HE SAID THE PROTECTIONISTS SHOULD REMEMBER THE DICTUM OF THE PHILOSOPHER SANTAYANA +THOSE WHO DO NOT LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT THEM. +
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