This is a tale about another lie that America would like us to believe, like “Freedom”, “Justice” and “Democracy”. This lie is “Free Enterprise”.
My girlfriend Kelly and I had just arrived in Chaing Mai, Thailand. We hadn’t been here for a few years and in the intervening time Chaing Mai has gone from a rural backwater town that catered mostly to the local population to a thriving city with lots of western tourists. One of the things we noticed was an abundance of new tourist goods, one of which really caught our attention. They were cotton reversible stadium, bomber and hooded baja jackets that have lots of hill tribe embroidery on them. And, if you buy them wholesale, they’re amazingly cheap! The stadium’s and bomber’s are $6, the baja’s are only $4. We know we could easily sell these in America for 20 bucks apiece. We ask about the shipping and duty. Even with that added on the cost of each piece wouldn’t even double. We’re ready to buy, but first we have to visit the American Consulate to get the skinny on customs regulations.
We’re seated in a room and in walks a young guy who introduces himself. He asks what we’d like to know.
We tell him.
He smiles and says, “Well, that might be a problem.”
I ask why. “Because of the ‘Cotton Quota”.” he answers.
Cotton quota?
He continues, “America has a “Cotton Quota” to protect the American cotton growers. Why, if we let anyone who wanted to import cotton articles into the US then pretty soon the country would be inundated with cheap cotton clothing and the poor American framers would be out of business, which would be very bad for our economy.”
I ask him what about all the imported cotton clothing already brought into the US by the large corporations?
“They have a cotton quota” he says.
I ask how can I get a cotton quota?
He tells me since this is November that all this years cotton quotas are already used up, but I can apply for next years which will be issued in February 1988. However, I shouldn’t count on being given on since whoever already has one gets first crack and then big business has priority for any that are left over. “Because,” he says still smiling, “that’s what’s economically good for the country.”
I ask if there’s anything I can do?
“Well, you can find a local merchant here who already has a cotton quota. They’ll be happy to do business with you.”
I ask for the name of such a merchant?
He smiling, shakes his head saying, “Sorry. I can’t do that. It would look like we were favoring local merchants over American ones. But if you just ask around I’m sure you’ll be able to locate one. Now if there’s nothing else...?”
I say, “But what about Free Enterprise?”
He, still smiling, just stands there looking at me like I’m some kind of idiot then says, “Good day.” and leaves the room.
Well ain’t that a kick in the ass.
Next day Kelly and I ask some of the local merchants about having a cotton quota. They tell us that they don’t know anyone who has one. “Very difficult.” they say.
Finally we hear of a Canadian ex-pat who runs an export business. We call him and he tells us to come on over. We all sit down and have tea while he gives us the news. “Most countries in the “Free” world don’t have quotas on durable goods. You just import what you want and pay the duty. If too much of one thing starts coming in, then they raise the duty until things even out” he says. “Only America has quota’s. Of course, the quotas don’t apply to any of the large corporations. If they want to import more then their quota is simply increased.”
I ask if he has a cotton quota.
“No,” he tells us, “they’re too much hassle. However, I can give you the name of someone here who does.”
I thank him as he writes down the name and address. He tells us to drop by anytime, and to let him know how it went for us.
That evening we go to the address the Canuk gave us. It’s a Thai woman whose shop is just full of the jackets.
We ask her her wholesale prices.
She asks about the quantity we’d want.
We tell her.
She does some figuring then gives us the price.
And it’s very cheap because, she tells us, she has her own factory. In fact, we can specify not only the colors and styles, but the embroidery patterns as well.
We ask if she has a cotton quota.
She says she does!
However, this year’s is all used up, but if we come back in February then there’ll be no problem. She tells us she even works closely with a shipper who will give us a very good rate. Sounds good to us so we tell her we’ll see her in 4 months. After a little R&R up in the Golden Triangle, Kelly and I head for the beach to hang out to await February.
It’s February 1988 and we’re back in Chaing Mai. We go see the Thai woman and she tells us this year’s cotton quota isn’t in yet, but soon will be.
No problem. Kelly and I can easily hang out in the Triangle for a month and head for Chaing Rai.
Back to Chaing Mai in March. Still no cotton quota. But soon, just be patient, she tells us.
We hang in Chaing Mai. April comes, no cotton quota.
I go back to the Consulate to ask about it. The same young smiling officious asshole tells me that it’s a little late this year because all the American companies haven’t all received theirs yet. Maybe next month.
May comes, no cotton quota.
I tell Kelly, “Our visa’s are up so it’d either a trip down and back to Penang to renew them (a 3 day trip each way), or fuck it.”
Kelly says, “Fuck this shit Tai. After all, we’re hippies, not businessmen. Let’s go to India, kick back, smoke some primo hash and get high.”
Sounds good to me.
As we leave Chaing Mai I think, ‘Free enterprise my ass. Like everything else in America it’s only true for the rich and powerful, for the rest of us it’s just another bullshit lie.’