EVANS ANNOUNCES RESULT OF CHINA TEXTILE
SAFEGUARD DECISION
“This decision demonstrates the Bush Administration’s
commitment to our trade rules and America’s workers. I believe
this will advance our future dealings with China, for no market
operates fairly without open dialogue.
“The
availability of this safeguard mechanism is an important tool for
facilitating China's transition into the WTO. We look forward to
beginning our consultations with the PRC, with the goal of achieving
a mutually beneficial result on this issue.”
Summary
-- Yesterday, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA) voted to invoke safeguard relief on three textile products
(knit fabric, dressing gowns and robes, and bras) imported to the
U.S. from China following petitions filed by the U.S. textile industry.
--
The petitions were filed by the industry under a special provision
of China’s WTO accession agreement that allows the U.S. (and
other WTO members) to impose temporary quotas on textile imports
from China in the event those imports are found to cause “market
disruption.”
--
CITA is chaired by the US Commerce Department and includes, State,
Treasury, Labor and USTR. Once the China textile safeguard is invoked,
the U.S. is required to pursue a negotiated resolution of the matter
with the Chinese government.
--
For more information, please visit http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/Safeguard_intro.htm.