Chapter 876: Nanyang never does loss-making business (fourth update, please subscribe)
In a clothing factory in New Jersey, it is no longer as busy as before, and it is completely silent. The originally clattering sewing machine has stopped its busy rhythm at this moment, leaving only the faint sound of dust floating in the air. The female workers stood beside their sewing machines, still holding unfinished garments in their hands, looking blankly at the foreman in front of them.
The foreman had a sullen face, with helplessness and exhaustion in his voice:
"Everyone knows that our factory has stopped production. Because of the impact of those cheap Asian goods, they took away everything we have Due to the orders, the factory can only stop production..."
The foreman looked at the female workers in front of him. In the past few years, they have long been familiar with each other, and many of them are neighbors and friends.
Looking at his friends, the foreman's tone was filled with bitterness.
“So we...are all unemployed.”
His words were like a huge stone thrown into a calm lake, causing waves in the hearts of the female workers.
“How could this happen?”
Someone muttered in a low voice, with a tone full of unwillingness and confusion.
"It's all those one-dollar women's shirts from Asia that have robbed us of all the market."
Another female worker said angrily, her brows furrowed as if she could clamp down on the invisible competition. pressure.
“One-dollar shirts? How could this happen?”
“Because they are too cheap. Now that there are such cheap shirts. And the colors are so rich, who is still willing to buy from us? How many dollars does a shirt cost?”
The female workers began to gather together to discuss this sudden change. Their words were full of dissatisfaction and helplessness about cheap Asian textiles, as if those one-dollar shirts were the culprits that took away their livelihoods.
Not as if!
But the fact is that it is those "one dollar shirts" from Asia that are cheaper than they imagined. Taking away their market and their jobs.
When they mentioned the "one dollar shirt", their voices no longer had the joyful look in the past.
Only a sad look was left on his face, but more of an anger. Because they are unemployed.
However, in this heated discussion, no one mentioned an embarrassing fact - the female workers who were having an indignant discussion were wearing those cheap one-dollar shirts. Those shirts and dresses were once the center of conversation among women. They are so cheap, so cheap, you can buy a shirt for the price of a piece of bread.
At that time they were cheering for cheap dresses. But now their existence is undoubtedly a mockery of their own remarks.
This scene is not only played out quietly in this clothing factory in New Jersey, but also in countless clothing factories in other places.
The emotions of the female workers swayed between anger, helplessness and embarrassment. They were wearing cheap clothes that made them unemployed.
And those factories that were once full of life and vitality are now like silent ruins, waiting for the unknown future.
"...The entire factory area is in ruins. If we don't intervene in time, we will see that the American textile industry and the American clothing industry will completely disappear from this world."
"Unemployed female workers have to rely on their husbands to make ends meet, and poverty will once again envelope the land of the United States."
One garment factory after another closed down, and thousands of textile workers and garment factory workers The unemployment caused an unprecedented shock to American society.
After all, this is the first time, the first time that American companies have collapsed systematically on such a large scale under the impact of foreign products. The reality of thousands of people losing their jobs has also had an impact on American society. Unprecedented.
For a time, a topic was being discussed in newspapers, on TV, and on the radio.
"One Dollar Shirt"
Not only that, politicians in Washington are also discussing "one dollar shirts". After all, they have to do something, at least to prove to the outside world that they are not free rice here.
Especially when some unemployed female workers write to them, angrily accusing them and their friends of being unemployed due to the impact of cheap Asian clothing, those members of Congress always need to give a positive response. .
"This is the "One Dollar Shirt". Under their impact, hundreds of thousands of American garment workers are losing their jobs, and thousands of factories have closed down, or are on the verge of closing down. Here I am I want to ask...when we formulated the low-tariff policy, did we think about how to protect American industries?”
In Congress, members of Congress were filled with indignation against those who lowered tariffs on clothing. There were quarrels and debates.
Overnight, all the issues in Washington were not as hot as the "Asian cheap clothing impact". Whether it was the Democratic Party or the Republican Party, they were discussing this topic...how to deal with this cheap impact.
No matter where they stand, the topic has become one of the hottest topics in Washington, even in the White House.
In the Oval Office, Eisenhower was also discussing this topic with Dulles. "Senators in many states are now debating how to stop the impact of cheap Asian clothing, and some blame the inaction of the White House."
"No matter what happens, Mr. President , they will all put the blame on the White House, they are just shirking responsibility."
Dulles knows his colleagues, and shirking responsibility is what they are best at.
"But now the whole country is paying attention to this problem. It has indeed caused a lot of people to lose their jobs. If we don't solve this problem, we will definitely lose the election next time, and this will also be a reason for them to attack me. "
As he spoke, Eisenhower's brows wrinkled. This issue was becoming a weapon for others to attack him, and those people would even use this as a reason to question his ability.
"So Mr. President, now we need to solve this problem."
Dulles said, looking at the president.
“We must conduct a comprehensive investigation on those cheap clothes, and then solve it fundamentally.”
"Investigation? What are you investigating? Aren't those clothes all produced in Nanyang?"
Eisenhower said with some dissatisfaction.
“Don’t you see? Nowadays, our market is full of Nanyang goods and clothing. Basically all the clothing comes from Nanyang. From cheap to high-end, this is true. ”
In the face of some angry words from the president. Dulles said.
“Judging from the newspapers, although a considerable part of those cheap clothes come from Nanyang, their actual origin is not in Nanyang. After all, the production costs in Nanyang are there!”
This is what makes them feel the strangest. Although the production cost in Nanyang is much lower than that in the United States, it is absolutely impossible to be as low as this incredible level.
It is impossible for them to export at a loss. After all, no country will export goods at a loss to supply other countries.
Well, except for the Soviet and Eastern countries. They do export at a loss for the sake of the market. That is because of their special economic system. They can artificially lower the domestic price of a certain commodity. Purchase at a cost lower than the international market price and then export and sell it to the international market.
For those countries, currency is just a numbers game.
But Nanyang is different. They are a country that follows market rules. They never do business at a loss!
"If they are not in Nanyang, where are they produced?"
Eisenhower asked with some confusion.
“It should be abroad.”
Dulles said.
“Overseas? You mean in those countries with very low production costs, right? But how do their products enter the United States through Nanyang?”
Eisenhower looked at Dulles and asked.
"Mr. President, this is exactly what we need to find out."
Dulles said, looking at the president.
“So before we have direct negotiations with Nanyang, we must figure out all this. We need to figure out where those clothes are produced, how they entered Nanyang, and then how they entered the United States.”< br>
Dulles said.
"This is very important, Mr. President. If we don't have conclusive evidence, it will be difficult to resolve this issue in negotiations."
"Let's do it."
Eisenhower said.
“Before things get worse, we must solve this problem. We must let everyone see that we are doing our best to solve this problem and not let others take it. Attack us.”
(End of Chapter)