Southern governors criticize Bush position on textiles

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - Governor Barnes and two other Southern governors want President Bush to reconsider a trade proposal to eliminate textile tariffs over the next 13 years. <br> <br> Barnes, Mike Easley of North Carolina and Jim Hodges of South Carolina criticized Bush in a letter for not living up to a pledge to minimize the effects of future trade deals on the textile industry. All three governors are Democrats. Barnes and Hodges are both leaving office this month. <br> <br> The Bush administration called on the World Trade Organization last month to eliminate all tariffs on manufactured goods over the next 13 years. The proposal came just months after some members of Congress said they were promised textile industry protection in exchange for giving Bush trade promotion authority. <br> <br> A U.S. Commerce Department spokesman says the letter ignored efforts by the Bush administration to level the playing field for American textiles.