CITA accepts for review safeguard petitions on two China categories

CITA accepts for review safeguard petitions on two China categories    The U.S. interagency Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) said late Friday it had accepted for review a threat-based China textile safeguard petition on categories 347 and 348, affecting men's, boys', women's and girls' cotton trousers.
   CITA will shortly publish its decision in the Federal Register, which will trigger a 30-day period for public comment, followed by a 60-day window during which CITA can make a final decision at any time.
   CITA will also be making decisions over the next two weeks as to whether to accept any, some, or all of six additional China safeguard petitions filed by domestic U.S. manufacturers of textiles and apparel.
   'We are extremely pleased that CITA has accepted for consideration our cotton trousers petition based on the threat of market disruption. We believe we have a very strong case that should be approved,' said Allen Gant, chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations.
   'Our industry is looking for our government to prevent China from taking over virtually the entire U.S. textile and apparel market,' Gant said.
   'The evidence we presented to CITA was substantial and overwhelming. There is no doubt that China will surge into the U.S. market after quotas expire at midnight on Dec. 31,' said Auggie Tantillo, executive director of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition.
   CITA's action infuriated U.S. importers of textiles and apparel, although many had anticipated it. Laura Jones, executive director of the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA), told Shippers' NewsWire just before CITA's decision, 'we expect CITA to take a further protectionist step to go on coddling U.S. domestic textile and apparel manufacturers. The Bush administration also wants the electoral votes of Southern textile-producing states.'