The U.S. Agency for International Development, (USAID) distributes close to 10 billion condoms in poor countries around the world, and until now distributed condoms made in the United States.
When Congress dropped the “buy American” language from the recent stimulus bill, USAID got a rise and decided to head to South Korea and China for their condoms. They cite the cost difference as their motive. Korean and Chinese condoms cost 3 cents less each.
The net effect will be placed squarely on one firm, Alabama-based Alatech. The company expects to layoff 300 workers as a result of losing the contract. The company is located in Eufaula, Alabama, population 13,350.
Ever wonder what hundreds of condoms look like rolling down the assembly line? Here’s a video from Alatech’s manufacturing facility.
From the Kansas City Star:
In the Great Depression, Congress passed the Buy American Act, meant to give domestic suppliers an advantage over foreign companies in winning government contracts.
But the most recent congressional appropriations bill, passed two weeks ago, did not contain a buy-American provision for condoms, as it had in the past. One lobbyist suggested that failure was more an oversight than anything else.
Alatech officials and others, however, maintain there is more than just American jobs at stake. There is a health and quality issue, too.
The problems with Chinese products — including pet food, toys, toothpaste, drywall and more — have increased to the point where many consumers are now wary of the ubiquitous “made in China†label.
It should be noted, the U.S. Agency for International Development received $38 million dollars in federal dollars from the 2009 stimulus package, and now they’re shipping part of that along with U.S. jobs overseas.
Yesterday China announced they want the dollar dropped as the world’s standard currency. It seems China is f**king us at every turn, and we don’t even get a kiss.
AWB
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…But we STILL get the condoms, right???