Freedom Tower Glass

On November 7, 2009, the U.S. Navy’s San Antonio-class amphibious ship, USS New York, was commissioned. This was no ordinary christening. Over seven tons of steel, salvaged from the rubble of the World Trade Center’s twin towers, were used in the construction of this new American symbol of freedom. The ship will be a lasting testament to the victims of 9-11.

Today, plans are being made for yet another memorial; this one at Ground Zero. This monument to the victims will last even longer than the USS New York, and will be viewed by millions more. Freedom Tower’s glass and steel, an impressive image of American enterprise, will rise above the New York skyline as a testament to American perseverance. But one of the most important sections of the building, the blast-proof glass meant to shine like the American spirit, and protect the building from future assaults, will be “Made in China.”

Is this travesty to the American people due to a lack of affordable, high-quality glass in our country? No. It is to save an insignificant amount of money at the expense of American manufacturing and jobs.

PPG Industries, a leader in American glass manufacturing, stands ready to invest millions of dollars in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (in the same state where another 9-11 plane fell from the sky). In fact, in preparation for this work, the company has already spent $250,000. This project would represent $1.9 million in sales to the Carlisle plant and would support 460 jobs.

PPG has formed a partnership with Ontario-based Barber Glass, and has submitted a bid to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. This Canadian-American partnership, symbolic of the courageous manner in which the two countries worked together on that fateful day, is a far more appropriate source for the glass.

But the bid was awarded to a Chinese-based firm. Shandong Glass, at a savings of less than 5 million dollars, will supply the low-iron glass for this important project.

Finally, not only would the PPG glass be “Made in America,” the industrial sand, soda ash and limestone in the glass would be “Mined in America.” And from this perspective, the Industrial Minerals Association – North America (IMA-NA) takes strong exception to the awarding of this project to a Chinese-based firm. Chinese companies receive subsidies from the Chinese government, making it nearly impossible for U.S. domestic manufacturers to compete. This interference in the functioning of free markets devastates American business in a variety of ways, but this further insult to the American people during the construction of this most precious building should not be tolerated. It is vital that this icon of American strength and courage be built using American-made products.

IMA-NA is a trade association created to advance the interests of North American companies that extract or process industrial minerals used throughout the manufacturing and agricultural industries. IMA-NA stands ready to participate constructively in this important discussion.