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In an announcement that coincided with a visit
by Obama to Nike's Oregon headquarters, the company said
footwear tariff relief within the proposed 12-nation Trans
Pacific Partnership trade agreement would allow it to speed up
investment in "advanced footwear manufacturing" in the United
States.
Obama is pressing the U.S. Congress to pass Trade Promotion
Authority, which would enable him to negotiate international
trade deals without the threat of changes by lawmakers.
If TPA is passed and the TPP deal is sealed, Nike said, it would
accelerate its U.S. investments and spur as many as 10,000
domestic manufacturing and engineering jobs, thousands of
construction jobs, and up to 40,000 jobs elsewhere in its supply
chain over 10 years.
Nike has 26,000 employees in the United States and more than 1
million workers in 700 contract factories worldwide that
manufacture its shoes. Its top-end soccer and baseball shoes
retail for more than $300.
"We believe agreements that encourage free and fair trade allow
Nike to do what we do best: innovate, expand our businesses and
drive economic growth," said Nike Chief Executive Officer Mark
Parker in a media release distributed by the White House.
The company did not say in the media release what it would pay
those workers or where the U.S. jobs would be located.
Obama is scheduled to visit Nike's headquarters later on Friday.
The trip was designed to help sell the free-trade agreement to
skeptical Democrats, who say it will put more American workers
out of jobs and cut their wages while enriching companies.
An administration official said Nike approached the White House
about the issue, which led to the trip. White House aides have
been coy all week about why they chose Nike, which suffered for
years from a tarnished image for using Asian sweatshops to make
its products.
Imports accounted for as much as 98 percent of the U.S. market
for apparel, although that number has fallen slightly, according
to the American Apparel & Footwear Association.
(Additional reporting by Krista Hughes and Roberta Rampton in
Washington; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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