Fraying of a Latin Textile Industry

The garment and textile industry has, for decades, been a source of employment and economic vitality for many South and Latin American nations. In El Salvador, the industry has been crucial to improving the standard of living for its people. But across the region, garment workers are being blindsided by changes in global trade. January 2005 saw an end to textile quotas worldwide, and companies have responded by shifting production to the cheapest possible venues, usually opting for China or elsewhere in Asia. This change has led to a sharp dip in employment in El Salvador and other Central American nations. Over 70 percent of the clothes made in Central America come from US materials, and failing industries in some nations may spark a wave of migration to their northern neighbor. Central Americans in search of jobs hope that geography is on their side and that the United States will seek a closer, quicker alternative to Asian manufacturing. –YaleGlobal