Senator Collins Offers Assistance To Moosehead Manufacturing Workers; Plans To Introduce Legislation To Curb Unfair Foreign Trade Practice That Hurts Maine Businesses

Washington, DC - Senator Susan Collins today pledged to do everything she can to help the workers of Moosehead Manufacturing who are expected to lose their jobs at the Monson plant. The company announced it is laying-off eight people and reducing its force by 13 positions. Senator Collins will support an increase in the federal job training and support services that are available to dislocated Moosehead workers. The staff at Senator Collins'' local state office also stands ready to assist and coordinate efforts with state and local agencies.

In addition, Senator Collins intends to re-introduce legislation that would give the U.S. government the legal strength to enforce fair trade laws against all countries that export goods into the U.S. The Stopping Overseas Subsidies Act (SOS) would revise current trade laws to ensure that all countries doing business with the U.S. are operating under the same rules that help to ensure fair competition for American manufacturers. Moosehead Manufacturing officials have cited unfairly subsidized Chinese imports as one of the reasons that the American furniture market is struggling.

"We must level the playing field. Our nation''s manufacturers can compete against the best in the world, but they cannot compete against nations that provide huge subsidies and other unfair advantages to their producers," said Senator Collins.

Senator Collins'' legislation would allow the U.S. to enforce anti-subsidy laws, known as countervailing duty laws, on all trade partners. Countervailing duty laws prohibit foreign countries from subsidizing industries and businesses in a way that allows those industries and businesses to sell their goods below the cost that American manufacturers are able to offer. Current trade law does not allow the U.S. to enforce these laws on countries that traditionally operate under a state-controlled economy. But Senator Collins'' legislation updates the law to take into account the fact that many of these countries, like China, now allow their manufacturing industries to operate as relatively free markets engaged in international trade.

"Unfair market conditions cannot continue to cause our manufacturers to hemorrhage jobs. Industries across the country that produce products ranging from paper to footwear to furniture are being harmed by unfair trade practices, and it is time we put a stop to it," said Senator Collins. "I hear from manufacturers in Maine whose efforts to compete successfully in the global economy simply cannot overcome the practices of illegal pricing and subsidies of nations such as China. The results of these unfair practices are lost jobs, shuttered factories, and decimated communities." Dislocated Moosehead Manufacturing workers who need assistance with job retraining and support services may contact Senator Collins'' Bangor office at 202 Harlow Street, Room 204, by telephone (#945-0417), or by fax (#990-4604).