Watchful Eye
Vietnamese apparel manufacturers have hired a U.S. law firm to help them deal with any antidumping charges brought by the U.S. government in 2008. Sidley Austin LLP, a worldwide law firm headquartered in Chicago, will help Vietnamese apparel makers legally fight any antidumping charges surrounding five apparel categories: shirts, trousers, sweaters, underwear and swimwear. The U.S. Department of Commerce has been watching apparel imports from Vietnam since January 2007 to make sure the country isn’t dumping goods at below-market prices. Monitoring of goods will take place until at least Jan. 19, 2009, when President Bush leaves the White House. In its first biannual review in July, the U.S. government found there was insufficient evidence for antidumping action. To pay for Sidley Austin’s services, the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association will ask all firms to pay a .01 percent fee on all its estimated export business to the United States.
