Textile industry says Pakistan package will cost U.S. jobs

WASHINGTON - A trade group contends a concession package intended to reward Pakistan for its help in the war on terrorism will likely mean more job losses for the struggling American textile industry. <br> <br> The American Textile Manufacturers Institute, the industry&#39;s chief Washington lobby, estimates that a package accepted by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will represent $476 million in new apparel imports over three years. <br> <br> ATMI&#39;s associate director for trade and special projects, Cass Johnson, says it will have the direct affect on the American textile and apparel companies. <br> <br> Johnson said, ``Basically, it means more textile workers out of jobs. We&#39;re in such a critical state right now, any additional imports are going to hurt.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> After years of steady decline, the U.S. textile industry is in its worst crisis since the Great Depression. About one-third of its jobs -- roughly 220,000 workers -- have been lost in the last ten years. <br> <br> According to ATMI, Pakistan&#39;s textile and apparel quota would increase by eleven to 13 percent in each of the next three years. Part of the agreement involves transferring unused quota on some textile products to apparel products, such as woven gloves, coats, blouses and trousers, which Pakistan wants to import in higher numbers. <br> <br> The Bush administration had promised lawmakers from textile states that it will work to minimize the damage of any trade policy change with Pakistan. <br> <br> Representative Howard Coble, a North Carolina Republican and chairman of the congressional textile caucus, expressed disappointment but no surprise about the concessions. Coble recently voted against granting Bush a freer hand in making trade agreements, citing his concerns about Pakistani textiles.