It has happened because rich-world companies have replaced workers with new technology to boost productivity and shifted production from labour-intensive products such as textiles to higher-tech, higher value-added, sectors such as pharmaceuticals.

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And that's going to require improving our schools, that's going to require improving the infrastructure in Haiti, that's going to require providing the ability of Haitians to sell their products like textiles into advanced countries at an advantageous situation so that they can start rebuilding their commerce and their industry.

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Work will involve bio-refining, and developing different processes to turn crops such as rye grass, miscanthus (a perennial grass), oats and artichokes into products ranging from fuels to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, bio-plastics, food and health products.

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But the company has encountered months of negotiation on whether it should be allowed to operate cafes and restaurants and sell products, such as textiles, toys, books, secondhand furniture and consumer electronics, that don't carry the IKEA brand.

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This is an interesting little tale of a small British company trying to reshore, perhaps onshore, production of certain textiles products.

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There are already some great examples of NASA technology being commercialized in Colorado, from temperature-controlled textiles used in outdoor gear to dehydration-preventing products for athletes and adventurers.

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Imports currently satisfy the country's annual demand for 500, 000 tons of the petroleum and natural gas by-products, which are used to make plastics, fibers, fertilizers, textiles and a variety of other items.

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FTAA, the United States would have to slash at its protection of textiles, clothing and farm products.

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Petroleum products make up the bulk of African exports to the US, but exports of textiles, minerals and agricultural goods have picked up.

BBC: US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns

The weak dollar has rendered American labour more competitive, but not enough to rejuvenate low-margin, labour-intensive manufacturing in industries such as textiles, furniture or paper products.

ECONOMIST: Exports and the economy