September 2005 - The Bush administration has announced a plan to conduct consultations on whether to seek a broader agreement with China on U.S. imports of textile and apparel products from that country.
To give the administration time to execute this plan, an interagency group chaired by the Commerce Department ? the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) ? announced on August 1 the extended period for making determinations in six textile-market disruption cases on those imports.
CITA is to decide whether a surge in imports of certain men?s and boy?s wool trousers, cotton and synthetic dressing gowns and robes, brassieres, sweaters, knit fabric and synthetic-filament fabric from China is disrupting the U.S. market.
In addition, market-disruption proceedings began on August 1 on imports from China in five other textile and apparel categories, including women?s and girl?s cotton and synthetic-woven shirts; nightwear; swimwear; and cotton, wool and synthetic socks.
Temporary imposition of quotas is allowed under China?s World Trade Organization agreements.