Publication Number: 3641

Report Title: U.S. Market Conditions for Certain Wool Articles in 2002-04

Investigation Number: 332-449

Author's name(s): John Benedetto, Lisa Ferens, Jackie Jones, Rose Steller

Date Published: September 2003

Report Description/Introductory Text: This report provides information on U.S. market conditions for men’s (and boys’) worsted wool tailored clothing, worsted wool fabrics used in such clothing, and inputs used in such fabrics for 2002 and year-to-date 2002-03. U.S. demand for men’s tailored clothing generally declined during the period covered by the report, reflecting the popularity of casual dress in the workplace and weak and uncertain economic conditions. In general, the decrease in demand for coarse-micron tailored clothing more than offset the increase in demand for fine-micron clothing. Imports still supplied most of the domestic market for men’s tailored clothing.

Many U.S. tailored clothing manufacturers contacted by Commission staff reported that they continued to experience declining sales, import competition, and pressure from retailers to reduce prices. The worsted wool tailored clothing manufacturers also attributed the decline in their domestic production to insufficient quantities and varieties of cost-competitive fabrics available in the United States relative to Canada and Mexico, major suppliers of tailored clothing that benefit from preferential market access under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The U.S. market for worsted wool fabrics used in the manufacture of men’s tailored clothing in the United States is estimated to have declined from 13.0-14.0 million square meters in 2001 to 12.5 million square meters in 2002. The ongoing decline in demand for coarse-micron fabrics offset the partial recovery in demand for finemicron fabrics. It is estimated that U.S. production of both fine-micron and coarse-micron fabrics declined in 2002, while imports of fine-micron fabrics rose and those of coarse-micron fabrics fell.

Topics Covered: men’s worsted wool tailored clothing, worsted wool fabrics, men’s tailored clothing, coarse-micron clothing, coarse-micron fabric, fine-micron clothing, fine-micron fabric, suits, sport coats, trousers, 18.5 microns

Countries: Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Germany, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Korea (South), Macedonia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, United States, United Kingdom

HTS Numbers: 5101.11, 5101.19, 5101.21, 5101.29, 5101.30, 5107.10, 5107.20, 5112.11, 5112.19, 6203.11, 6203.21, 6203.31, 6203.41, 9902.51

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