I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2387 
To provide for preferential duty treatment to certain apparel articles of 
the Philippines. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2011 
Mr. MCDERMOTT (for himself, Mr. AUSTRIA, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. FILNER, Ms. 
HIRONO, and Mr. SABLAN) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To provide for preferential duty treatment to certain apparel 
articles of the Philippines. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Save Our Industries 
Act of 2011’’ or the ‘‘SAVE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States and the Republic of the 
Philippines (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Phil-
ippines’’), a former colony, share deep historical and 
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cultural ties. The Philippines holds enduring political 
and security significance to the United States. The 
2 countries have partnered very successfully in com-
bating terrorism in Southeast Asia. 
(2) The United States and the Philippines 
maintain a fair trading relationship that should be 
expanded to the mutual benefit of both countries. In 
2010, United States exports to the Philippines were 
valued at $7,375,000,000, and United States im-
ports 
from 
the 
Philippines 
were 
valued 
at 
$7,960,000,000. 
(3) United States textile exports to the Phil-
ippines were valued at just over $48,000,000 in 
2010, consisting mostly of industrial, specialty, 
broadwoven, and nonwoven fabrics. The potential for 
export growth in this area can sustain and create 
thousands of jobs. 
(4) The Philippines’ textile and apparel indus-
tries, like that of their counterparts in the United 
States, share the same challenges and risks stem-
ming from the end of the textile and apparel quota 
system and from the end of United States safe- 
guards that continued to control apparel imports 
from the People’s Republic of China until January 
1, 2009. 
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(5) The United States apparel fabrics industry 
is heavily dependent on sewing outside the United 
States, and, for the first time, United States textile 
manufacturers would have a program that utilizes 
sewing done in an Asian country. In contrast, most 
sewing of United States fabric occurs in the Western 
Hemisphere, with about two-thirds of United States 
fabric exports presently going to countries that are 
parties to the North American Free Trade Agree-
ment and the Dominican Republic-Central America- 
United States Free Trade Agreement. Increased de-
mand for United States fabric in Asia will increase 
opportunities for the United States industry. 
(6) Apparel producers in the Western Hemi-
sphere are excellent at making basic garments such 
as T-shirts and standard 5-pocket jeans. However, 
the needle capability does not exist to make high 
fashion, more sophisticated garments such as em-
broidered T-shirts and fashion jeans with embellish-
ments. Such apparel manufacturing is done almost 
exclusively in Asia. 
(7) A program that provides preferential duty 
treatment for certain apparel articles of the Phil-
ippines will provide a strong incentive for Philippine 
apparel manufacturers to use United States fabrics, 
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