CITA reinstates quotas on 3 China textile categories

CITA reinstates quotas on 3 China textile categories    The U.S. Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) said Tuesday it will re-impose quotas on three categories of apparel sourced in China.
   The import categories affected are 222, for knit fabrics, 349/649 for brassieres and 350/650 for dressing gowns.
   The quotas are based on the trade levels for those products for the year ending August 31, plus an additional 7.5 percent in accordance with the terms of World Trade Organization’s protocol of assession for China.
   According to ‘safeguard’ procedures in the protocol, the new quotas can remain in effect for 12 months.
   “This decision demonstrates the Bush Administration’s commitment to our trade rules and America’s workers … no market operates fairly without open dialogue. The availability of this safeguard mechanism is an important tool for facilitating China’s transition into the WTO,” the Department of Commerce said in a statement. CITA is part of the department.
   “It’s apparent the U.S. domestic industry was counting on pure politics to push the Administration to impose new quotas, and unfortunately, it worked,” said Laura Jones, executive director of the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA).
   “Today’s decision only perpetuates the failed protectionist policies that have discouraged the U.S. textile industry from becoming competitive globally,” Jones said at the USA-ITA’s annual conference in New York.