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The Bush administration has decided to impose restrictions on the
imports of Chinese-made socks, a move to protect US textile workers before
the upcoming president election.
President George W. Bush made the decision after the US Committee for
the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) ruled that sock imports
from China are disrupting US markets and there is a risk of further harm.
The committee said it is seeking talks with China to try to ease or avoid
any interference in the market.
According to World Trade Organization rules, upon a request for
consultation, China must restrict its sock shipments to no greater than
7.5 per cent above the number that entered the United States during the
first 12 months of the most recent 14 months preceding the request for
consultations.
The rules also say consultations with China will begin within 30 days
of notification of the request. The two countries then have 90 days to
reach a resolution.
If the sides fail to reach agreement, the United
States can unilaterally impose quotas
for a year, limiting the growth of Chinese
imports in the category to 7.5 per cent.
It is the second time for the US Government to use the restrictive
measure to block Chinese textiles based upon the agreement's quotas on
Chinese knit fabric imports. Dressing gowns and bras were affected last
November.
US textile and clothing manufacturers also
submitted a petition for imposing quotas on cotton and synthetic
trousers, wool trousers, cotton
and synthetic knit shirts and underwear on October 12.
(China Daily) | 
Updated: 2004-10-25 10:38
