Commerce Secretary Locke Delivers Opening Remarks at the U.S.-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Chicago

Submitted on January 21, 2011 - 2:00pm
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U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke delivered the opening address at the U.S.-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum with the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Chen Deming.  The Forum is jointly hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. 

Representing the Obama administration for Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Chicago, Locke highlighted the progress that the United States and China have made to strengthen the bilateral relationship, emphasizing the benefits of Chinese foreign direct investment in the U.S. on the American economy.  He also reiterated the concerns that American business leaders continue to express about the commercial environment in China. 

While in Chicago, Locke also attended a dinner hosted by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley in honor of President Hu.  Remarks

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China Trade Agreements Affect on US Fashion and Textile Industry

Submitted on January 24, 2011 - 2:31pm.

There has been a notable shift in the American fashion and textile industry as well as the pervasive amount of consumable products imported from China. Almost everything we buy in every category of products sold in US discount stores are made in China. The quality is increasingly poor.

Fashion - The quality and selection of textile fabrics has diminished increasingly, as has the color and hue available in everything from clothing to cosmetics.

American Women are in 2011 dressing in subdued colors increasingly similar to communist China. By this I mean, slate blue, greys, browns, very pale shades in almost everything.

Is this by agreement with the textile industry in America, or are American consumers being unduly influenced by the economic power in America that China has become privy to. Is this by design?

One has only to open a magazine or window shop to see that there is very little vivid color in retail these days except in packaging. It appears that American women are caught in a negative psychological process influenced by a pervasive trend of receded colors.

A depressed female population in a recessed economy. This appears to be an engineered affect on what has been female consumerism in America. The question is, why, and what is the desired outcome by the United States and China? As basic research has proven (with regard to physiological affect of color on the functions of mental capabilities and mood, this trend is not psychologically healthy for the American population, although it has been absolutely lucrative for China.

The American textile and fashion industry was founded on diversity and freedom of expression. China appears to have an almost monopoly on our fashion and textile industry as well as imported consumable products of everything from clothing to paper plates, shoes, hats coats...everyday items of every kind.

Why does China have this undeclared monopoly?

Additional comments from the Secretary

Submitted on January 24, 2011 - 6:43pm.

In delivering his remarks, Secretary Locke cited recent industry statistics on Chinese FDI that augments the picture supplied by the official data, which is currently only available through 2008.

"Already, Chinese companies have invested $12 billion in the U.S., according to the Rhodium Group, supporting at least 10,000 jobs in the U.S."

These statistics, only available last week, show tremendous growth in Chinese FDI in the United States in 2010, with an increase from $5 billion in 2009 to $12 billion in 2010. An incomplete survey of many of the projects covered demonstrated that there are at least 10,000 U.S. jobs supported by these Chinese investments.