Senator Opposes Defense Authorization Amendment to Require European Garment Sourcing
The Senate Armed Services Committee should reject a National Defense Authorization Act amendment that would require the Defense Department to source garments solely from a European-led manufacturing consortium formed to address labor conditions in Bangladesh, said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., in a Dec. 2 letter (here). The amendment requires DoD to source garments only from companies that have signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, said Corker. Swedish retailer H&M spearheaded the creation of the accord and the deadline passed for company endorsement in May.
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“This amendment unjustifiably discriminates against U.S. garment manufacturers and retailers in favor of European garment manufacturers and retailers,” said the letter. Corker’s press office declined to comment on the amendment or its sponsor. Corker expressed concern that any amendment would institute “preference for European companies over U.S. companies, especially since it is our understanding that U.S. companies have done as much or more on the ground to fix the safety and health problems in Bangladeshi garment factories.”
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman decided in late June to rescind Generalized System of Preferences status for Bangladesh following a series of labor disasters in Bangladesh over the past year, culminating in the April 24 Rana Plaza factory fire that claimed nearly 1,200 lives (see 13071613). Wal-Mart and The Gap, among other U.S. and Canadian corporations, launched the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety in early July (see 13071613). The amendment would preclude DoD garment sourcing from the U.S.-Canadian alliance, said Corker. The Senate Armed Services majority and minority staff did not respond for comment.
Corker objects to “attempts to include language in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 that would shut out U.S. textile firms from selling products to Department of Defense commissaries and exchange stores,” said a Senate Foreign Relations Committee minority staff press release. Corker is the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate is slated to debate the National Defense Authorization Act after reconvening on Dec. 9.
The U.S. and Bangladesh signed an economic pact Nov. 25 that provides an avenue to discuss actions needed to restore GSP status for Bangladesh, said a USTR spokeswoman (see 13112618). The Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) builds off a Bangladesh GSP Action published by the administration in July, said the spokesman, which seeks to increase Bangladeshi government inspection of manufacturing facilities and improve freedom of association (here).
The European-led accord, the U.S.-led alliance, the International Labour Organization, and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology also recently signed a private-industry agreement to improve building and fire safety in the Bangladeshi manufacturing sector, according to a joint Nov. 20 release (see 13112618). The National Defense Authorization Act amendment “would undermine current efforts by the Accord and Alliance to work together on the development of joint technical standards, training and inspection protocols, and undermine cooperation among the Government of Bangladesh, the U.S. government and European governments,” said Corker.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee minority press release.