For example, because of wage differentials between the countries, U.S. apparel-makers would need to be 2.5 times more productive than firms in Hong Kong to be  competitive. 
( ( For example ) ( , ( ( because ( of ( ( wage differentials ) ( between ( the countries ) ) ) ) ) ( , ( ( U.S. apparel-makers ) ( ( would ( need ( to ( ( be ( ( ( 2.5 times ) ( more productive ) ) ( than ( firms ( in ( Hong Kong ) ) ) ) ) ) ( to ( be competitive ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN For) (NP (NN example))) (, ,) (PP (RB because) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN wage) (NNS differentials)) (PP (IN between) (NP (DT the) (NNS countries)))))) (, ,) (NP (NNP U.S.) (NNS apparel-makers)) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB need) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (ADJP (QP (CD 2.5) (NNS times)) (RBR more) (JJ productive)) (PP (IN than) (NP (NP (NNS firms)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNP Hong) (NNP Kong)))))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ competitive)))))))))) (. .)))
U.S. apparel makers were far ahead of Hong Kong firms, forcing them to try and keep up.
( ( U.S. ( apparel makers ) ) ( ( ( ( ( were ( far ahead ) ) ( of ( Hong ( Kong firms ) ) ) ) , ) ( forcing ( them ( to ( ( try and ) ( keep up ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP U.S.) (NN apparel) (NNS makers)) (VP (VBD were) (ADVP (RB far) (RB ahead)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNP Hong) (NNP Kong) (NNS firms))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG forcing) (S (NP (PRP them)) (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VB try)) (CC and) (VP (VB keep) (PRT (RP up))))))))) (. .)))