Trade, academics clash on Honduras market

The exile of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and military takeover of that Central American nation captured the attention of trade associations and university professors—and the Obama Administration is hearing from both. Honduras is the third largest market for U.S. textile mill products and fourth largest supplier of apparel to U.S. markets. A letter from 11 trade associations to the President emphasized that Honduras was “the linchpin to the Western Hemisphere supply chain for this sector.” The trade groups, including the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, want a predictable and stable relationship with Honduras—with or without Zelaya. Meanwhile, a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed by 35 Latin America experts from U.S. universities urged restoration of democracy in Honduras, writing “anything less than the urgent restoration of President Manuel Zelaya to office would be an usurpation of the will of the Honduran people.” For more details, visit www.state.gov.