|
News
Release
For
Immediate
Release: Contact:
Cass Johnson, 202-756-1422
Friday,
July
8,
2005
Missy Branson,
202-756-1440
Chinese
Apparel Exports Embargo in Just Six Weeks
Administration Action Saves
U.S.
Textile Jobs
CAFTA
Needed to Ensure Competitive Playing Field
Washington
DC)
Chinese exports of key apparel products embargoed
today just six weeks after the
U.S.
government imposed safeguards against Chinese
imports.
The embargo means that
China
will be barred from exporting to the
U.S.
any additional cotton trousers, cotton knit shirts
or underwear for the rest of the
year.
The
embargoes occurred so quickly because Chinese
exports increased by almost 1,100% during the
first six months of the year. Chinese
exports of trousers, knit shirts and underwear
increased from 56 million pieces during Jan-June
2004 to 653 million pieces during Jan-June 2005
(see table).
Cass
Johnson, President of NCTO, stated:
“China
was ready to ambush the
U.S.
industry in 2005 but timely action by the Bush
Administration has kept damage to a minimum. The
government’s quick approval and implementation of
the industry’s safeguard petitions has saved tens
of thousands of
U.S.
textile jobs.
Congress
now needs to act decisively to save textile jobs
by passing DR-CAFTA and solidifying important
trading relationships in our own hemisphere. Without
DR-CAFTA in place,
U.S.
textile exports, worth more than $4 billion, will
be in potential jeopardy to subsidized Asian
suppliers.
The
government acted aggressively to stop unfair
Chinese exports, now the U.S. Congress needs to
ensure that our export markets remain secure by
passing DR-CAFTA. 71 percent
of all apparel imports from the this region
contain
U.S.
yarns and fabrics, compared to less than one
percent of imports from
China.
In
this competitive climate, the
U.S.
textile industry not only needs strong action
against unfairly subsidized imports but it must
also have advantageous trade agreements such as
DR-CAFTA in place. Both are
essential if our companies and our workers are to
compete
successfully.”
Facts
on Chinese Exports
|
Embargoed
Apparel Imports from
China |
|
|
Imports
(pieces) |
|
Embargoed
Categories |
YTD
June 2004 |
YTD
June 2005 |
Percent
Increase |
|
Cotton
knit shirts
(338/339) |
13.6
million |
236
million |
1,639% |
|
Cotton
trousers
(347/48) |
11
million |
212
million |
1,785% |
|
Underwear
(352/652) |
31.4
million |
205
million |
554% |
|
Total
|
56
million |
653
million |
1,066% |
|
Source:
U.S.
Department of
Commerce |
To
access safeguard fill level information, go to: http://www.customs.gov/quotas/files/cntxtrpt.htm
Facts
on DR-CAFTA:
1)
The
U.S.
textile industry exports over $4 billion in US
made yarns and fabrics to the DR-CAFTA
region.
It is by far the largest manufacturing
exporter to the
region.
2)
The
DR-CAFTA replaces a temporary duty-free program
for textiles and apparel called the Caribbean
Basin Trade Partnership Assistance Act (CBTPA)
which expires in 2008.
3)
The
broad textile industry, as represented by eight
major textile associations (see below), support
DR-CAFTA and urge its passage.
These groups represent more than $100
billion in annual
US
textile sector production and
sales.
American
Cotton Shippers Association
(ACSA)
American
Fiber Manufacturers Association
(AFMA)
American
Textile Machinery Association
(ATMA)
Carpet
and Rug Institute
(CRI)
INDA,
Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics
Industry
National
Cotton Council
(NCC)
National
Council of Textile Organizations
(NCTO)
Textile
Distributors Association (TDA)
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