U.S. Domestic Sock Makers Support DR-CAFTA.

WASHINGTON -- The United States Hosiery Manufacturers Coalition (USHMC), a broad nation-wide coalition of domestic sock makers, reaffirmed today its strong support of the US-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), which it said is "necessary to preserve jobs in the United States."

"We want to set the record straight," said USHMC Executive Director Nicole Bivens Collinson. "United States sock manufacturers support the DR-CAFTA. The agreement provides the greatest hope for retaining sock and hosiery industry jobs in the US and is of paramount importance to US yarn spinners and cotton growers."

According to industry experts, the terms of the agreement open opportunities for continued co-production among the US, Central American countries, and the Dominican Republic. Like the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, the Special Access Program, and the US-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, passage of DR-CAFTA will allow USHMC members to remain competitive in sock production by supplementing domestic production, thus preserving as many US jobs as possible.

The USHMC is comprised of innovative, forward-looking US companies involved in the sock and hosiery industry. Its members include Russell Corporation, Sara Lee Branded Apparel, Renfro Inc., Mountain High Hosiery, Gold Toe Brands, Agron, and the American Apparel & Footwear Association. As a group, the coalition accounts for approximately 75 percent of hosiery sales in the United States and over 25 percent of actual domestic sock production. Coalition members provide, directly and indirectly, more than 75,000 US jobs.

For further information on the benefits of DR-CAFTA or to learn more about the USHMC, contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at 202-216-9307 or [e-mail] or Ronald J. Sorini at 312-641-0000 or [e-mail].