Textile protections in doubt as Congress begins trade talks

WASHINGTON - Congressional textile supporters contend the House version of a trade package sought by President Bush would harm their struggling industry, yet many agreed to push it one step closer to passage. <br> <br> Although a top textile lobby recommended otherwise, several House members from Southern textile districts joined those voting last week to open talks with the Senate on the trade promotion authority, which would give President Bush a freer negotiating hand. <br> <br> The House approved the motion 216-215, the second one-vote margin in six months for the issue. <br> <br> Some lawmakers explained they simply wanted to move along a process that seemed inevitable, but a top textile defender questioned whether his colleagues effectively gave away their best opportunity to change the bill. <br> <br> Republican Repesentative Howard Coble of North Carolina said, ``They portray this as a procedural vote. You tell that to the textile worker who lost his job last month. Procedure or not, he&#39;s not going to put that together.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Coble is acting chairman of the House textile caucus. <br> <br> Representative Robert Aderholt, a Republican who represents a major textile district in Alabama, was among those agreeing to send the bill to a conference committee with the Senate. However, Aderholt told House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas of California not to count on his support for the final version. <br> <br> Aderholt said, ``He told me, &#39;I just need this vote to be able to go to conference. If you don&#39;t like it when it comes back out, vote against it.&#39;&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Barring some changes, that&#39;s what many Southern lawmakers intend to do. <br> <br> They say the House version only weakly assists displaced textile workers, doubles the amount of duty-free imported apparel allowed from sub-Saharan Africa and lacks assurances that the United States won&#39;t lower its tariffs on another country&#39;s textiles until that country matches the American level. A Senate version, viewed as more friendly to textiles, includes that provision.