Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2004-10-29, Gov. Easley Praises Enactment Of Safeguards On Chinese Imports Of Socks: Calls For Additional Safeguards Immediately

Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Cooper Bratton Date: October 29, 2004 Phone: 919/733-5612 GOV. EASLEY PRAISES ENACTMENT OF SAFEGUARDS ON CHINESE IMPORTS OF SOCKS Calls For Additional Safeguards Immediately HIGH POINT — Governor Mike Easley today commended the decision by the federal government last Friday to impose safeguards to limit the growth in Chinese imports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks. The Governor made the announcement at Harriss and Covington Hosiery Mills in High Point, a 5th generation textile mill that has been affected by the federal trade policies regarding Chinese imports. “For the past four years, I have been hounding Washington to take action on misguided trade policies and as recently as two months ago, I urged elected officials throughout North Carolina to call on the Bush administration to limit the unfair surge in imports of Chinese hosiery,” said Easley. “They have finally responded. With last Friday’s decision, the growth in imports will be reduced to a more manageable level, providing invaluable time in which to transition.” By manipulating its currency and unfairly subsidizing its manufacturers, China has flooded the global market with cheap socks, hosiery and other textile products. Sock imports from China have skyrocketed from less than one million dozen pair in 2001 to 42 million dozen pair in the year ending August 2004. During this time, more than 2,700 sock production jobs have been lost in North Carolina. Easley also urged the federal trade officials to enact similar safeguards on 10 other categories of Chinese products, including trousers, shirts, sheets and underwear, whose import levels are projected to surge next year, following the removal of quotas on January 1, 2005. The administration must make an initial ruling on petitions calling for these safeguards by Monday (Nov. 1, 2004). “Despite the loss of jobs due to unfair trade agreements, North Carolina has outpaced the nation in job growth this year by keeping our cost of business low and ensuring that the skill of our workforce is high,” said Easley. “Enacting these safeguards gives us much needed additional time to retrain the workforce for the knowledge jobs of the future.” Governor's Press Office State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (919) 733-5166 ###