Unifi to Close Staunton, Va., Facility

Accorind to a May 16, 2008 report in the Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia) textile maker Unifi will close its Staunton facility, idling about 145 in September. The newspaper reports that the yarn maker will consolidate the Staunton operations at its Yadkinville, N.C., plant.

Law Prof. Lawrence Lessig Writes on Orphan Works

In an Op-Ed titled Little Orphan Artworks in Today's New York Times, Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig argues that the Orphan Works Act currently before congress "is both unfair and unwise."

USTR’s China Compliance Reports and Plans Could Be Improved

On May 14, 2008, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released its report U.S.-China Trade: USTR's China Compliance Reports and Plans Could Be Improved GAO-08-405 finding:

USTR’s annual reports to Congress, which detail U.S. industry concerns with China's compliance and progress on resolving such concerns, are
very consistent in format and language. However, they lack any summary analysis about the number, scope, and disposition of reported issues that would facilitate understanding of developments in China’s trade compliance and better tracking of the effectiveness of U.S. monitoring and enforcement efforts with China. For example, USTR’s narrative reports make it difficult to understand the relative level of progress China made in each trade area in a given year. USTR reported issues that spanned nine trade areas and ranged from very specific issues to broader concerns; however, USTR’s narrative reports make it difficult to ascertain specific changes or trends. GAO’s systematic content analysis quantified the number, type, and disposition of trade issues and identified 180 individual compliance issues from 2002 to 2007. GAO analysis showed that China resolved a quarter of these issues, but made no progress on one-third of them. Also, GAO’s analysis revealed that China’s progress in resolving compliance issues varied by trade area and has been slowing over time, especially since 2004, when most progress was made.

GAO could only partially determine the status of U.S. agencies’ implementation of USTR’s 2006 top-to-bottom report, which outlines broad objectives and priority goals for U.S.-China trade relations as well as specific action items. GAO found that key trade agencies made considerable progress implementing planned action items. They increased bilateral engagement with the Chinese and monitoring and enforcement
capacity by increasing staffing levels and training opportunities, but staffing gaps and limited Chinese language capacity are challenges at some agencies. However, GAO could not determine agencies’ progress toward achieving some U.S. objectives and goals identified in the report. USTR does not formally assess its progress or measure program results. The lack of linkages between U.S. objectives and planned
action items and undefined terms make it difficult to assess whether the steps agencies described taking were effective. Furthermore, the report has not been updated to reflect recent developments.

What GAO Recommends:

To improve U.S. monitoring and enforcement related to China, USTR should (1) systematically identify and report the number, type, and disposition of issues in its annual compliance reports to Congress; (2) update and improve the plans in its 2006 top-to-bottom report; and (3) take steps to assess its implementation of these plans. USTR did not comment on GAO’s recommendations but expressed concern about
quantifying compliance information and said the top-to-bottom report was a one-time policy document, not a plan. Still, GAO believes effective reporting enhances USTR’s ability to provide useful information on China’s WTO compliance and the status of U.S.-China trade objectives to Congress.

US Wins WTO Dispute Against EU Bananas Preference Program

This is the eleventh time the EU’s regime has been found inconsistent with its GATT or WTO obligations. The bananas dispute is the longest running dispute in WTO history, stretching back to the pre-WTO GATT days.

The dispute became most heated when, in 1999, the U.S. threatened to impose retaliatory duties of as high as 100 percent on selected imports from the EU. The target list included certain textile products such as cashmere sweaters of interest to the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute. NTA reported on the issue at the time in the NTA Update of April 1999.

The EU has the option of appealing the report to the WTO Appellate Body.

Childrens's Blankets from China Recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, today announced a voluntary recall of about 74,000 Lil’ Snugglers™ Children’s Blankets. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. The blanket’s satin edge can come loose, posing a strangulation hazard. The recalled children’s blankets are 14 inches square with an animal head sewn in the middle. The satin border around the outside edge is about one inch wide. The blankets were sold by specialty stores nationwide and on the Web from April 2005 through December 2007 for about $12. The blankets were manufactured in China.

Read NTA's Comments on Flammability Rule

Yesterday NTA on behalf of our member, an in particular our Upholstery Fabrics Committee filed comments on the Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with regard to a Standard for the Flammability of Residential Upholstered Furniture.

NTA Upholstery Fabrics Committee Comments on Flammability Rule

Today NTA on behalf of our member, an in particular our Upholstery Fabrics Committee filed comments on the Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with regard to a Standard for the Flammability of Residential Upholstered Furniture.