Tide of ‘Buy American’ Sweeping Across U.S.

(Video: CBS News • Story: Toronto Star)



Municipalities adopt protectionist measures despite Obama’s pledge

Eugene Delgaudio wants to get a few things out of the way before he begins to say anything about bilateral trade.

Delgaudio, a member of the board of supervisors of Loudoun County, Va., says the jurisdiction of about 283,000 people buys a large amount of stuff. They are building a lot of schools. They spend about $1 billion (U.S.) a year without even dipping into state or federal funds.

Delgaudio wants it clearly understood there was a good reason – not just a “jingoistic” or “patriotic” reason – for the suburb of Washington, D.C., to adopt one of the “Buy American” resolutions that are causing so much hand-wringing by his neighbours to the north.

“We’re not just blue-collar rednecks saying ‘Buy American,’” explains Delgaudio.

“It’s more what I think to be an attempt to help local companies in Loudoun County.”

The Loudoun board is just one of hundreds of municipal governments that have adopted resolutions promising to spend their stimulus funding on U.S. companies – even though that is already a provision of the stimulus bill passed by Congress. Read more here.

Related: PM right to lash out at 'Buy USA’ (Toronto Star)