U.S. trade deficit
with China zooms
More U.S. companies
choosing China as the
location to produce
manufactured goods
America’s trade imbalance with
China is continuing to worsen, ac-
cording to statistics released in Febru-
ary by the Foreign Trade Division of
the U.S. Census Bureau.
In 2007, the trade deficit with
China (exports minus imports) passed
the quarter trillion dollar mark: $256.3
billion. U.S. imports from China set a
new record: $321.5 billion. That’s the
equivalent of $1,068 of Chinese
goods for every man, woman and
child in America, though even that
figure is a way-below-wholesale
price; it’s what U.S. companies paid
to Chinese enterprises. Meanwhile,
U.S. exports to China also rose, to an
estimated $65.2 billion, though it con-
sisted mostly of raw materials, parts
and machines.
Overall the U.S. trade deficit with
all its trading partners was down
slightly, to $711.6 billion in 2007,
from $758.5 billion in 2006. That
owes to lowered consumer spending
and a decline in the value of the dol-
lar.
But China trade continues to zoom.
The United States now imports more
from China than from any other coun-
try. It’s not like Chinese brands are
filling American shelves. For the most
part, imports are a case of U.S. com-
panies choosing China as the location
to produce manufactured goods. Pro-
duction that used to be outsourced to
other less-developed countries is com-
ing to be concentrated in China.
The imbalance is alarming to lead-
ers of the American labor movement,
which at one time was strongest in
manufacturing.
“Our imbalance with China is un-
sustainable,” said AFL-CIO President
John Sweeney in a press statement re-
acting to the release of the annual
trade statistics. “Our government must
take immediate and effective actions
to ensure that the Chinese government
plays by the rules – with respect to
currency, illegal subsidies, tax policies
and workers’ rights.”
The labor federation is backing a
bill in Congress, the Currency Reform
for Fair Trade Act (HR 2492), which
declares currency manipulation an il-
legal trade subsidy and provides
American manufacturers the opportu-
nity to seek relief against countries
that don’t freely exchange their cur-
rency, including China.
China is so dominant in the con-
sumer goods sector that it calls into
question the recent stimulus package
passed by Congress. To combat the
recession, the IRS will be mailing out
checks to Americans in the coming
months, and the hope is they’ll go
shopping. But if they’re spent on
clothes, toys or electronic goods,
those dollars likely won’t employ
American workers other than those
whose jobs are to transport or sell the
goods.
Consumer prices rise higher in
Portland area than rest of nation
The cost of everything is going up.
Last month the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the Consumer Price
Index (CPI) climbed 3.7 percent last year in the region running from Portland
metro to Salem.
That’s the biggest increase in a decade — and it tops the national CPI, which
was 2.8 percent.
The CPI measures a broad range of consumer expenses in dozens of categories.
Prices in the region were up in nearly every category in 2007. Gasoline jumped 11
percent; the average cost for medical care increased 12.7; and food and bever-
ages rose 3.4 percent. The only declines locally were seen in natural gas, recreation
and education — and none went down by more than 1 percent.
Since 2001, the inflation rate in the area has hovered around 2.6 percent or
lower. The highest jump in the past 10 years was 3.3 percent.
Another measurement BLS takes is the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers (CPI-U). It measured 208.556 for the 2007 annual average. That
means a market basket of goods and services that cost $100 in 1982-84 would
have cost $208.56 in 2007.
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Roger G. Worthington, P.C., leads the fight to find a cure
Mesothelioma: treatment and compensation
Do I have a case?
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to obtain compensation for your disease. Why? Be-
cause mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, and the companies that made asbestos-containing products knew it was
deadly. The law can force these companies to pay for poisoning you. The times, dates, places and products related
to your asbestos exposure will determine whether or not you have a valid claim. Our firm can give you an idea
about possible compensation in a ten minute phone call, or quicker.
Meso survival
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you’re fighting for your life. Untreated, mesothelioma runs its course
in about seven months. With the right doctors and the right therapy, it’s possible to survive for as long as five years.
Our firm works with the best meso specialists on the West Coast, and we have donated more than $2 million to
help find better treatment and a cure for mesothelioma. We can help you navigate the health maze and put you
directly in touch with the best meso doctors in America.
Taking charge
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you’ve gone through every emotion humanly possible, as has your
family. Now is the time to take charge. Medically, you have options and you have hope. Legally, you have rights
related to asbestos exposure and disease. Our firm can help put you back in the driver’s seat.
Fighting back
IN MEMORIAM
Barbara Jo Hougen, first vice
president of the Northwest Oregon La-
bor Council and a longtime member
and former officer of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Lo-
cal 89, died Feb. 11, 2008, in Billings,
Montana. Cause of death was liver and
kidney failure. She was 57.
Hougen was born in Idaho Falls,
Idaho, Nov. 29, 1950, daughter of
Roger and Bonnie Wise Hougen. She
attended business school in Idaho Falls
before moving to Portland, where she
worked for GTE (later, Verizon) for
over 30 years.
She was an active member of IBEW
Local 89, which is headquartered in
Everett, Wash. Hougen served as a
shop steward and chairperson for the
Beaverton, Ore., unit from 1989-1998.
She was elected to the union’s Execu-
tive Board in 1981 and elected presi-
dent of the local in 1986. She held that
post for 12 years.
Hougen was first vice president of
the Northwest Oregon Labor Council
and was a delegate to IBEW interna-
MARCH 7, 2008
tional conventions and to Oregon AFL-
CIO state conventions. She had just
been re-elected to the labor council
post.
She retired from her job at Verizon
on Dec. 15, 2007.
Soon after that, she fell ill and was
hospitalized. She was taken from Port-
land to Billings, where she died with
her family at her side.
She was preceded in death by her
parents and a brother, Gerry.
Survivors include her siblings, Phyl-
lis Thornton, Vicki Bertz, Britt
Hougen, Sheila Wise and Tom
Hougen; best friends Connie and Larry
Pope; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Cremation has taken place and, at
her request, no service will be held.
Remembrances can be made to:
Hillsboro Public Library, 2850 NE
Brookwood Parkway, Hillsboro, OR
97124; IBEW Local 89, P.O. Box
2330, Everett, WA 98213; or Animal
Aid Inc., P.O. Box 863, Beaverton, OR
97075.
Your mesothelioma was likely caused by asbestos. Makers of asbestos-containing products knew they were selling
lethal products since the 1930s, yet they did nothing to warn. Shipyard workers, pipefitters, insulators, painters,
drywallers, machinists, housewives, students, Navy veterans — these and countless others were needlessly poisoned
for the sake of profit. For every victim who fights, thousands of others have silently gone to the grave. We can help
you fight back and let the poisoners know that they won’t be let off the hook for their callous acts.
Demanding what’s yours
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your medical bills are mounting. You may be deeply concerned
about your family’s finances if the disease progresses. Demanding compensation from the companies that poisoned
you can help pay for medical treatment and can help assure that your family is provided for. We can help.
Why us?
Mesothelioma cases are all we handle. Although each case is different, we’ve recovered over $1.2 billion in judg-
ments and settlements for our clients in the last 18 years. We can’t guarantee a recovery in your case, but we can
guarantee that we’ll do everything in our power to help get one. Trust your case to a firm that is expert in this com-
plex field. We play to win.
Call Roger G. Worthington at:
8 0 0 - 83 1- 93 9 9
For a free booklet of medical/legal information, including medical experts,
patient profiles, cllinical trials and asbestos products, call us or vist our website.
www. mesothel.com
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
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