Safeguard Measures Filed
A group of U.S. apparel and textile companies has filed petitions with the U.S. government to limit imports of several Chinese apparel and textile items following the elimination of quotas on Jan. 1, 2005. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, chaired by the U.S. Department of Commerce, will decide whether the petitions include sufficient information and meet technical criteria. The industry petitions cover 15 of 91 product categories, from cotton and synthetic-fiber trousers to cotton knit shirts and cotton sheets. The group also wants to extend the three safeguard measures already in effect on dressing gowns, bras and knit fabric. Those measures are scheduled to expire on Dec. 24.
