Congressman McHenry opposed a bill today that will, if implemented, place an additional burden on Western North Carolina’s textile industry.  The bill, HR 5160, was primarily designed to help Haiti recover after its recent devastating earthquake.  However, portions of the overall bill would allow goods made primarily from components produced in other Third World countries into the U.S. duty-free.

Currently most of the apparel produced in Haiti is made from yarn from American textile companies.  This bill would change that, and allow Third World countries to ship almost-finished products to Haiti, which would in turn be transshipped to the U.S. duty-free.  
 
Rep. McHenry released the following statement on the legislation:

“In a time when our people need jobs, this bill is giving them away.  In a time when we should help small business, this is hurting them.

“Haiti’s earthquake was a true tragedy but this bill is not just about Haiti.  This legislation will let China ship textiles to Haiti, do minimal work there, and then turn around and ship them to the U.S. duty-free.  It doesn’t help Haiti recover and it kills more Western North Carolina jobs.

“Bad trade deals like this one have placed a huge burden on North Carolina textile workers.  Now is not the time to make their lives harder.”