December 15, 2003
China Textile Letter Delivered to White House
Dec. 2003 -- During a press conference on Oct. 29, 2003, a united textile industry, led by the American Textile Manufacturers Association and National Textile Association, released letters sent by congressional members to President Bush in support of invoking the special textile China safeguard.
The coalition thanked the 130 U.S. representatives and 26 U.S. senators who signed the letters, adding that their support shows a strong, bipartisan and geographically diverse coalition on Capitol Hill in favor of the industry?s China safeguard petitions.
The letters urged the Administration to approve the industry?s China textile safeguard request, prevent any loopholes that would benefit China and other Asian nations as part of a proposed free trade agreement with Central American nations, and maintain U.S. textile tariffs during the current WTO trade talks.
The American Sheep Industry Association is a member of the coalition and assisted with the congressional support of Sens. Conrad Burns (R-MT), Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Reps. Dennis Rehberg (R-MT), Charles Stenholm (D-TX), Henry Bonilla (R-TX), Joel Hefley (R-CO), Collin Peterson (D-MN) and John Murtha (D-PA) in signing the letters.
Wool Press Program Continues for Another Year
Dec. 2003 -- The American Wool Council is once again conducting its popular wool press program, which means that producers, sheep shearers and wool warehouses can purchase Lyco Dominator wool presses at substantial savings.
Woolsacks, Inc., the U.S. distributor for Lyco wool presses, continues to assist in the program by making the presses available, without additional mark-up, and by coordinating shipping, which translates into freight savings.
A limited number of presses will be ordered, and will be available in time for the 2004 shearing season. Depending on currency exchange rate, prices are estimated to be no more than $7,200 for a Honda gas model press and $7,500 for a 110-volt electric press. Purchasers will be responsible for shipping charges from Fredericksburg, Texas, to the final destination.
?The prices have gone up since the program began three years ago,? said Bob Padula, American Sheep Industry Association wool quality improvement consultant. ?The main factor in the price increase is the exchange rate ? the Australian dollar has appreciated against the U.S. dollar by more than 40 percent.?
Washable Wool Washer Introduced in North America
Dec. 2003 -- Attention wool wearers: You can now launder washable wool at home thanks to the Whirlpool Duet washer, the first appliance in North America to be certified by The Woolmark Co., a leading wool textile organization, for safely cleaning washable wool garments.
The wool cycle, specifically designed for washable woolen garments, works in the following way: The water temperature is controlled. Launderers can select a ?cold? or ?warm? water setting, but not a ?hot? water setting. In addition, the pre-wash and soak cycles are ?locked out? to prevent overexposure to water and detergent. The cycle also features gentle tumbling action and low spin speed to maintain garment shape.
The end result? Clean clothes ? minus the expense and inconvenience of dry-cleaning.
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