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Wednesday April 06, 09:41
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US manufacturers to limit Chinese imports
(by Tash Koon)
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After the government gave in to manufacturers’ requests concerning textile imports to China, US manufacturers are preparing the next series of requests for import limits on other products.
"The United States has overprotectionist, irrational and unreasonable arrangements," said Qin Gang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry. "This is unfair," he added.
Carolyn Hern, spokeswoman for Rep. Robin Hayes, reported that the textile industry will turn to the government with the request to curb the Chinese surge in manufacturing 11 items.
On Monday Bush administration reported that there is no risk for American companies as it is going to hold investigations to find out whether China was disrupting American sales of cotton knit shirts and blouses, cotton trousers and underwear made of cotton and man-made fibers.
«This is the first time the U.S. government has self-initiated any sort of action against China. That obviously sends a strong signal our government is not going to stand by and see U.S. jobs lost while (China) continues to cheat and use unfair trading practices," said Missy Branson, senior vice president for the National Council of Textile Organizations.
"Until the Chinese decide to compete fairly, it will be up to us to do what we can to further protect our manufacturing base and ensure we keep the good paying jobs we already have," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.
Compared with the first quarter of 2004, government data for January through March this year showed a 1,521 percent jump in Chinese cotton trouser imports and a 1,258 percent jump for knit shirts.
"That’s the number of textile and apparel industry jobs lost since January 2001," said the spokesman for the American Manufacturers Trade Action Council.
"You have a general price deflation in clothing, but consumers could expect over the medium to longer term to see a fairly substantial price reduction at the end of the quota system," said Erik Autor, vice president and international trade counsel for the National Retail Federation. "This indefinitely delays that."
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