And what has been the result. “US consumers purchased a record $285 billion worth of clothing in 2005 or the equivalent of 19 billion garments.”
During the time when quotas were imposed, Burke said the apparel industry in China, now the world's largest supplier of apparel, grew stronger, not weaker. Also, other developing countries, which previously did not have apparel industries, developed them virtually overnight, providing low-cost labor markets that still drew manufacturing away from the United States despite the quotas.
Burke also called for an end to US clothing duties, which average nearly 13 percent, on apparel imports sold by US firms. “In 2005 alone, US apparel firms paid almost $10 billion in duties, or 40 percent of all duties collected by the US government, even though apparel and textiles represent less than six percent of all US imports.”
He also called for an end to non-tariff barriers, such as labeling requirements, customs measures, product standards, distribution restrictions, which restrict the ability of US brands to sell into the very markets that manufacture the clothing. “We believe these barriers are ridiculous,” he declared. “If we are good enough to make product there, we should be able to sell our product there.”
The elimination of quotas and other trade restrictions is the path to establishing a healthy industry, Burke said. “Just look at us in the United States,” he said. “Despite falling prices and little remaining US production, the US apparel market is booming and US apparel firms are thriving.”
Click here to access Kevin M Burke's speech
American Apparel & Footwear Association
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