MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Ellington, Aldridge, Arinder, Davis, Denny, Fillingane, Formby, Gunn, Janus, Lott, Martinson, Mims, Moody, Moore, Read, Reed, Simpson, Snowden, Turner, Upshaw, Wells-Smith
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO INITIATE ACTION AFFECTING THE UNITED STATES TRADE POLICY TOWARD CHINA SO AS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE TEXTILES, STEEL AND OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS, the United States trade policy toward China is the most important factor leading to the bankruptcy of many of the nation's largest textile companies; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Textile Institute, the United States textile industry lost 267,000 jobs from January 2001 through March 2003; and
WHEREAS, Chinese sales of textiles to the United States rose by 63 percent to $3.15 billion in 2002; and
WHEREAS, from 12 months ending in March 2002 to 12 months ending in March 2003, the United States government has stood by while China's textile and apparel exports to the United States have surged 140 percent; and
WHEREAS, the Chinese textile industry has a profound impact on the textile industry of the United States and Mississippi and the textile industry is vital to the economic welfare of the United States and Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, many of those jobs were lost in textiles, steel and other industries facing stiff pricing competition in which currency manipulation is a factor; and
WHEREAS, in December 2002, the United States suspended protective tariffs for the steel industry, increasing the vulnerability of Mississippi steel producers to currency manipulation:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby memorialize Congress to support the extension quotas on countries that use anticompetitive trade practices in textile and apparel trade; to initiate investigations and formulate cases against all Asian countries that manipulate their currencies; and to impose countervailing duty against Chinese textile imports that are subsidized by the Chinese government.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives and to each member of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation and Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott.