ITC to monitor Chinese apparel and textile imports

ITC to monitor Chinese apparel and textile imports The U.S. International Trade Commission will monitor certain apparel and textile imports from China at the request of the House Ways and Means Committee.
   The ITC will provide to the committee statistical reports every two weeks on the volume, value, unit value and import market share of apparel and textile items that are covered by the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Trade in Textile and Apparel Products, an agreement reached in late 2005 between the United States and China. The agreement expires on Dec. 31.
   In requesting the monitoring, the House committee said it is concerned that a market disrupting surge in apparel and textiles from China could occur after the MOU’s expiration. The committee noted that apparel and textile imports from China increased significantly following the 2005 termination of import restrictions under the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
   The ITC’s first report will be released to the committee on Dec. 1. All reports will be posted on the ITC’s Web site (www.usitc.gov). The commission will also publish an annual data compilation.