US textile makers plan complaints against China

U.S. textile makers are preparing to file dozens of trade complaints against China in a bid to cap imports of pants, shirts, towels and other items from the world's fastest growing apparel exporter.

Once the complaints have been filed, the U.S. Commerce Department will have 60 days to decide whether it will accept petitions which are basically based on the threat of, rather than actual, injury to the U.S. industry by Chinese imports, China Radio International reported Thursday.

President of the US National Council of Textile Organizations, Cass Johnson, says that specific limits on Chinese imports are necessary because global quotas on textile and apparel will expire at the end of the year.

He believes that once the quotas are eliminated, China will dominate the global trade in clothing and exports of Chinese goods to the U.S. will surge.

The U.S. has been trying since November 2003 to convince China to cap its exports.

Source: CRI