Arizona''s cotton industry hit by Chinese imports

Arizona is the fourth-largest cotton producer in the United States after Texas, Georgia and Mississippi. Most of the state''s cotton is grown in irrigated farms in Pinal and Maricopa counties.

According to the National Cotton Council, cotton is a $429.5 million annual business in Arizona accounting for more than 10,000 jobs. The Memphis, Tenn.-based industry group estimates there are more than 700 cotton-related farms, mills, factories and other businesses in the state.

Cotton farmers, like computer chip makers, face some tough competition from China (the world''s largest producer of cotton) where state-owned farms with cheap labor and a government-boosted currency can undercut domestic prices. Domestic sources used to account for 60 percent of the U.S. textile market. That total now is down to 40 percent and dropping fast as the Chinese and others flood the U.S. market with cheaper product.

"Dumping of lower-quality product on the market is a concern and continues to be a concern," said Joe Sigg, director of government relations for the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation.

Cotton farmers, textile makers and their political allies want to see some protections enacted by the Bush administration to stave off what they see as the dumping of cheaper products by the Chinese.

One-hundred and sixty-five members of Congress and the Cotton Council have written President Bush requesting that he initiate safeguards and tariffs against state-subsidized cotton and textiles from China.