Textile Coalition Wins Victory on China Safeguards

Nov. 21, 2003 -- The three China safeguard petitions filed on July 24, 2003, by the Textile/Fiber Coalition were approved by the Bush Administration on Monday of this week. The safeguard petitions were filed on knit fabric, brassieres and dressing gowns.

According to a coalition press release, the approval of the petitions triggers a consultation process with the Chinese to limit the growth of imports to the United States in these three categories. If no agreement on limiting imports can be reached, the United States may limit the level of shipments from China to a level no lower than 7.5 percent above the amount entered during the first 12 months of the most recent 14 months preceding the request or consultations.

The coalition commends the Bush Administration and the 29 U.S. senators and 144 representatives for their strong support of the American textile industry, and for their hard work in supporting these petitions.

Numerous industry leaders expressed their views. One of them, Jim Chesnutt, Chairman of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI), said, ?These safeguard petitions send a message that China, with its bevy of anti-competitive job-destroying trade practices, can no longer take this market for granted. As the Administration has acknowledged time after time, China manipulates its currency, subsidizes its exports and smuggles goods across our border. The fight for fair trade has only begun, and the coalition will not cease in its advocacy simply because the China safeguard has been invoked on these products.?

The American Sheep Industry Association?s Legislative Council is an active member of the coalition which filed these petitions.

Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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