ITC probes U.S. high-performance outerwear, travel goods industries

ITC probes U.S. high-performance outerwear, travel goods industries    The U.S. International Trade Commission has launched two investigations into the level of U.S. production and shipments of certain high-performance outerwear and travel goods.
   The investigations were requested by the House Ways and Means Committee in a letter to the ITC on Oct. 25.
   The ITC said the first report, covering high-performance outerwear pants and jackets and the fabrics used to make them, will be submitted to the committee by July 25, 2007. The second report, focused on travel goods with an outer surface of textile materials, will be submitted by Oct. 25, 2007. The ITC will rely on U.S. production and shipping data from 2005 and 2006 during its investigations.
   The ITC said it will hold no hearings in connections to the investigations. However, written comments from the industry are welcome. Comments for the outerwear investigation are due to the agency by April 30, and for the travel goods investigation by June 30. For more information, access the ITC Web site at https://www.usitc.gov.