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Illegal socks targeted

By Jared Felkins
The Times-Journal

Published June 25, 2008

A bill in Congress now includes funding to stop illegal sock imports into the U.S. and will hopefully help Fort Payne’s hosiery industry, according to Congressman Robert Aderholt.

Aderholt, R-Hayleyville, said he successfully included $9.5 million in the 2009 Homeland Security appropriations bill to continue textile transshipment enforcement.

“U.S. sock manufacturers, particularly those in Fort Payne and DeKalb County, are among the best in the world,” Aderholt said. “They can compete with anyone provided that the playing field is level. Unfortunately, the playing field is not level. Stopping these illegal transshipments is one way that we can help level the playing field.”

Aderholt said customs agents conducted a special enforcement operation targeted at just socks this year. They reviewed 45 importers claiming various countries of origin for their products. Seventy-two shipments were reviewed, of which four were seized for illegal transshipment. They were declared Hong Kong as their country of origin but were actually from China. Their value was about $1 million. Aderholt said many more shipments were refused entry into the U.S.

“U.S. textile manufacturers, and especially sock manufacturers, have had a tough time fighting against foreign manufacturers that utilize unfair business practices,” Aderholt said. “One of those unfair practices is illegal transshipment. That’s why it’s so important for the U.S. government to undertake proactive efforts to keep these illegal products from reaching store shelves.”

Aderholt said different schemes are used to evade duty or quotas on textiles being brought into the U.S. Some importers circumvent quotas by transshipment, the practice of changing the country of origin of their goods.

He said others use false documents or labels or provide incorrect descriptions of the merchandise.

Aderholt said he has included nearly $40 million in funding for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop illegal textile shipments.

Aderholt said the Homeland Security appropriations bill has been approved by a House panel and should be up for full House vote sometime next week.

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