U.S. delays decision affecting synthetic fabric imports from China

U.S. delays decision affecting synthetic fabric imports from China The U.S. government's Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has delayed a decision, due Monday, whether or not to limit imports of synthetic filament fabric from China. Synthetic filament fabric is used in everyday products ranging from pants to automotive and industrial fabrics.
   This is the first time CITA has delayed a safeguard decision beyond the mandatory date when a decision was due. The U.S. textile industry had filed its petition for a safeguard for synthetic filament fabric, Category 620, on Nov. 8, 2004.
   The American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC), a Washington, D.C.-based group that represents U.S. textile producers, said it was 'extremely disappointed that the U.S. government has chosen to delay this important decision.'
   Auggie Tantillo, AMTAC's executive director, said, 'the delay is even more puzzling when you consider that the U.S. government was able to render a decision on its self-initiated safeguard petitions on cotton shirts and trousers, and cotton and man-made fiber underwear in 37 days. The case on synthetic filament fabric, however, has been in limbo fir 252 days, more than eight months.'
   'The impact is serious,' Tantillo said. 'Every day the U.S. government delays its decision, more jobs of U.S. textile workers become endangered.'