‘Made in USA’ confusion at convention
The DNC official merchandise store inside the Philadelphia Convention Center draws large crowds every day for the many souvenirs of 2016 Democratic National Convention, everything from T-shirts, caps and socks to golf balls and buttons with image of Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
Careful shoppers would find that no labels have shown anything not made in the United States. T-shirt and mugs have “Made in USA” signs, while labels of origin could not be found for golf balls, socks and caps.
It is not sure if some labels have been taken off deliberately not to trigger a debate of political correctness. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has drawn fire from the Democrats and others for wearing things made in China and Mexico, especially after he promised to protect jobs in the United States.
Another store selling DNC souvenirs, run by the company Impact Dimensions, has taken a step further. Located in the Comcast Center just a few blocks from the convention center, it has a huge billboard outside stating “All Products Made in the USA”. And on each side of the wall is a huge poster with “Made in USA” sign against the background of US national flag of the Stars and Stripes.
Surreal from others
Unlike the official merchandise store inside the convention center, the goods from T-shirt and mugs to key chains and caps all bear “Made in USA” labels.
These two stores look so surreal from every other non-DNC related souvenir stores in Philadelphia, where most goods are either made in China or other developing countries in Asia and Latin America.
In the gift store of the Independence Seaport Museum along the Delaware River, about three kilometers east of the convention center, it is hard to find a thing made in the US.
T-shirts are made in Nicaragua, Honduras and Haiti, beach tower from Guatemala and everything else, from pirate island puzzles, model pirate ship, rubber band paddle boat and globe to plastic toys of starfish, duck and plush Teddy Bear carrying the museum’s logo, are all made in China.
While bilateral trade has expanded astronomically in the past four decades to nearly $558 billion, making China’s the top US trade partner, anti-trade sentiment has run high in the US, especially among Democrats.
A few years ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, made a big fuss about the 2012 US Olympic team uniforms made in China, not USA.
Hillary Clinton, nominated on Tuesday, made a big switch during the campaign to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership from the days when she was secretary of state, calling TPP gold standard. The move has been largely interpreted as a bid to win blue-collar voters.
“I don’t think it’s a national border thing. It’s about which is best for humankind and best for the earth,” said Tim Rowan, a delegate from Oregon to the 2016 DNC.
He added that people should be paid living wages versus people who can barely survive.
Fredie Kay, from Needham, Massachusetts, just finished her shopping at the DNC official merchandise store on Wednesday afternoon. She said she is aware that many jobs are lost and communities diminished.
But when asked if she wants to have a steel mill near her neighborhood, she gave a resounding “No.”