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Aderholt Reminds Administration of Honduran Sock Safeguard, Calls on Administration to Live Up to Their CAFTA Promises

Friday June 22, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday, June 19, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez asking him to take another look at a sock safeguard targeted at Honduras.

Congressman Aderholt stated, “Domestic sock production continues to fall while world imports, particularly those from Honduras, continue to rise. In my mind there is no doubt that a sock safeguard targeted at Honduran imports is warranted. U.S. sock manufacturers are clearly hurting and government intervention on their behalf needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

According to recently revised U.S. Census data on domestic sock production, production dropped by 19.6% in 2006. In the first quarter of 2007, domestic sock production dropped by another 13.5%. At the same time, import data from the Department of Commerce indicates that imports from Honduras have increased almost 50% in the year ending April 2007. World imports have increased 14% over that time.

“Almost two years ago the Administration made certain promises in regard to the protection of U.S. sock producers from CAFTA countries,” said Congressman Aderholt. “To this point those promises remain unfulfilled. Over the course of several meetings with me, Secretary Gutierrez has demonstrated that he’s aware of these promises and committed to fulfilling them once he has the data to justify action. With these revised production and import figures I believe that he now has the necessary data to implement a sock safeguard.”

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) bears responsibility for safeguard implementation. CITA was established in 1972 and consists of representatives from the Departments of Commerce, State, Labor, and Treasury, and the U.S. Trade Representative's Office.

Congressman Aderholt concluded, “Honduran sock imports have risen dramatically over the last year and constitute the largest threat to Fort Payne’s sock manufacturers. CITA has it within its power to protect them. My mission is to see that it happens.” 

To see the letter, click on the link below.
Secretary Gutierrez Letter, 6-19-07 ( 07/03/07 06:45 AM PST )
Congressman Aderholt sent this letter to Commerce Secretary Gutierrez regarding a Honduran sock safeguard.