CITA delays more China quota decisions, accepts new petitions

CITA delays more China quota decisions, accepts new petitions    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), a U.S. inter-agency panel, said Monday it will extend the period for making determinations on whether to impose quotas and request consultations with China on six pending textile safeguard cases.
   In mid-July, CITA said it would delay a decision on whether to limit imports of synthetic filament fabric from China (Category 620). That was the first time that CITA has delayed a safeguard determination beyond the mandatory date when a decision was due.
   New delays on implementing quotas are for men's and boys' wool trousers (Category 447), cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes (Category 350/650), cotton and man-made fiber brassieres (Category 349/649), knit fabric (Category 222), and cotton and man-made fiber sweaters (Category 345/645/646).
   CITA will now consult with the U.S. domestic textile and apparel industry and with members of Congress about whether to pursue a broader quota agreement with China, or proceed with quotas through the safeguard process.
   Sending mixed signals about its ultimate intentions, CITA also on Monday said it had accepted domestic industry petitions seeking the imposition of China safeguard quotas for socks (Category 332/432 and 632 Part), women's and girls' woven shirts and blouses (Category 341/641), cotton and man-made fiber skirts (Category 342/642), cotton and man-made fiber nightwear (Category 351/651), and cotton and man-made fiber swimwear (Category 359-S/659-S).