2008 China Textile Quotas

On January 1st the U.S. and China enter the third and final year of an agreement controlling exports to the U.S. of Chinese origin textile and apparel products.

Category                  2008 Quota
200/301.................  10,131,052 kg.
222.....................  21,482,908 kg.
229.....................  45,007,492 kg.
332/432/632-T ..........  85,058,437 doz pairs
338/339pt. .............  26,938,606 doz.
340/640..................  8,724,590 doz.
345/645/646.............  10,581,854 doz.
347/348.................  25,442,951 doz.
349/649.................  29,479,266 doz.
352/652.................  24,302,011 doz.
359-S/659-S .............  5,990,767 kg.
363....................  134,828,519 numbers.
443......................  1,756,637 numbers.
447........................  280,581 dozen.
619.....................  72,177,600 sq meters.
620....................  103,755,190 sq meters.
622.....................  43,412,575 sq meters.
638/639pt. .............  10,427,707 doz.
647/648pt. .............  10,298,709 doz.
666pt. ..................  1,268,884 kgs.
847.....................  23,029,668 doz.

On November 8, 2005 the U.S. and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning trade in textile and apparel products through the year 2008. The agreement went into effect January 1, 2006 and limits shipments of 21 different products (plus one sublimit) for each of the three years 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Federal Trade Commission Guide for Dealing with Spam Email

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has a website to address the problem of spam email at http://www.ftc.gov/spam/

This website has information about the Federal Trade Commission's law enforcement actions against deceptive commercial email and spammers' responsibilities under the CAN-SPAM law. In the "For Consumers" section, you'll find tips on how to reduce the amount of spam email in your in-box.

If you get spam email that you think is deceptive, forward it to spam@uce.gov. The FTC uses the spam stored in this database to pursue law enforcement actions against people who send deceptive email.

Short Supply Responses Due Jan. 10th

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) is considering Commercial Availability request for a

Composite Fabric: Woven Face laminated with Knit Backing (HTS Subheading: 6001.22). See posting of December 28

If you would like to submit a response with an offer to supply the subject product of the request or provide a rebuttal submission to a response, please note the following:

1. Be sure to carefully follow the detailed procedures as described at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/fr2006/caftafinpro1.htm - especially item 6. 'Submitting a
Response in a Commercial Availability Proceeding.'

2. Responses should include all requested information as well as any other information the responder views as relevant to the final determination.

3. Please be sure to include a due diligence certificate with all responses and rebuttals.

4. Include file number [38.2007.12.26.Fabric.ColumbiaSportswearCo] in all responses and dialogue pertaining to this request.

5. Responses with offers to supply and rebuttals responses will be considered as officially submitted on the date when both the e-mailed version and the original signed version are received by OTEXA. The original signed hard copy of responses must be received mailed via express courier to:

Chairman
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
U.S. Department of Commerce
Room 3001A, Washington, DC 20230

6. All responses must be in English.

7. Business confidential information should only be included in the original signed hard copy.

Responses are due by 12 A.M. (EST), on 01/10/2008. Rebuttal submissions are due by 12 A.M. (EST), on 01/16/2008.

Dept. of Commerce Notice of Allocation of Wool Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ)

On December 31, 2007, the Department of Commerce published
(72 FR 74273) Notice of Allocation of Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) on the Import of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics for Calendar Year 2008.

Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 as amended by the Trade Act of 2002, the Miscellaneous Trade Act of 2004 and the Pension Protection Act of 2006, creates two tariff rate quotas, providing for temporary reductions in the import duties on two categories of worsted wool fabrics suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers. The Miscellaneous Trade Act also authorized Commerce to allocate a new HTS category, HTS 9902.51.16. This HTS refers to worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameter of 18.5 microns or less. The amendment further provides that HTS 9902.51.16 is for the benefit of persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who weave worsted wool fabric in the United States.

FIRMS THAT RECEIVED ALLOCATIONS FIRMS THAT RECEIVED ALLOCATIONS:

HTS 9902.51.11, fabrics, of worsted wool, with average fiber diameter greater than 18.5 micron, certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers (provided for in subheading 5112.11.60 and 5112.19.95). Amount allocated: 5,500,000 square meters. Companies Receiving Allocation:

• Adrian Jules LTD-Rochester, NY
  
• Hartmarx Corporation--Chicago, IL
  
• Hugo Boss Cleveland, Inc-Brooklyn, OH
  
• JA Apparel Corp.--New York, NY
  
• John H. Daniel Co.--Knoxville, TN
  
• Majer Brands Company, Inc.-Old Forge, PA
  
• Saint Laurie Ltd--New York, NY
  
• Sewell Clothing Company, Inc.--Bremen, GA
  
• The Tom James Co.--Franklin, TN

HTS 9902.51.15, fabrics, of worsted wool, with average fiber diameter of 18.5 micron or less, certified by the importer as suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers (provided for in subheading 5112.11.30 and 5112.19.60). Amount Allocated 5,000,000 square meters. Companies Receiving Allocation:

• Adrian Jules LTD-Rochester, NY
  
• Elevee Custom Clothing--Van Nuys, CA
  
• Retail Brand Alliance, Inc. d/b/a Brooks Brothers--New York, NY
  
• Hartmarx Corporation--Chicago, IL
  
• Hugo Boss Cleveland, Inc.-Brooklyn, OH
  
• JA Apparel Corp.--New York, NY
  
• John H. Daniel Co.--Knoxville, TN
  
• M. Carchedi Custom-Abington, PA
  
• Majer Brands Company, Inc.-Old Forge, PA
  
• Martin Greenfield--Brooklyn, NY
  
• Saint Laurie Ltd--New York, NY
  
• Sewell Clothing Company, Inc.--Bremen, GA
  
• Southwick Clothing L.L.C.--Lawrence, MA
  
• The Tom James Co.--Franklin, TN

HTS 9902.51.16, fabrics, of worsted wool, with average fiber diameter of 18.5 micron or less, certified by the importer as suitable for use in making men's and boys suits (provided for in subheading 5112.11.30 and 5112.19.60). Amount allocated: 2,000,000 square meters. Company Receiving Allocation:

• Warren Corporation.-Stafford Springs, CT

President Proclaims Technical Changes to Chile and Singapore FTAs

President George W. Bush issues Proclamation To Adjust the Rules of Origin Under the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement

The modifications and technical rectifications to the HTS set forth in Annexes I and II to this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the later of (i) February 1, 2008, or (ii) the thirtieth day after the date of publication of this proclamation in the Federal Register.

China Quota Fill Rates for 2007

LISTED BY 3-DIGIT IMPORT CATEGORY. FILL RATES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2007 AS OF DECEMBER 27, 2007.

CATEGORY          LIMIT   UOM   RELEASED  %FILLED
--------      ---------   ---   --------  -------
200/301       8,832,199   KG    2,212,043   25.0
222          18,728,689   KG    9,278,679   49.5
229          39,237,301   KG   10,254,651   26.1
332/432/632  75,443,136  DPR   69,683,034   92.4
332/432/632  71,724,800  DPR   66,640,944   92.9
338/339      23,893,373  DOZ   20,363,793   85.2
340/640       7,738,332  DOZ    6,484,433   83.8
347/348      22,566,791  DOZ   19,842,830   87.9
349/649      26,146,827  DOZ   19,694,363   75.3
352/652      21,957,081  DOZ   18,913,144   86.1
359-S/659-S   5,267,743   KG    3,695,615   70.2
363         118,556,112   NO   86,231,716   72.7
443           1,544,629   NO    1,049,176   67.9
447             246,718  DOZ      145,943   59.2
619          63,466,510   M2   32,080,314   50.5
620          92,026,342   M2   23,797,924   25.9
622          37,846,860   M2   12,722,603   33.6
638/639       9,248,922  DOZ    7,919,224   85.6
345/645/646   9,477,660  DOZ    8,577,363   90.5
647/648       9,134,507  DOZ    8,039,870   88.0
666           1,106,206   KG       36,787    3.3
847          20,250,225  DOZ   11,254,939   55.6

Short Supply Request: Woven Face Laminated with Knit Backing (Responses Due Jan. 10)

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) is considering Commercial Availability request: 2007.12.26.Fabric.ColumbiaSportswearCo.

Composite Fabric: Woven Face laminated with Knit Backing (HTS Subheading: 6001.22)

(a) Woven Face Fabric of 100% polyester:

Warp: 120 metric/72 filament polyester (75 denier/72 filament polyester)
Filing: 112 metric/72 filament polyester (80 denier/72 filament polyester)
Thread Count: 56 to 58 warp ends per cm x 28 to 30 filing picks per cm (142 to 147 warp end per inch x (71 to 76 filling picks per inch)
Weave Type: 2X2 Twill
Weight: 105 to 109 gm per sq meter (3.0 to 3.2 ounces per sq yd)
Width: 146 to 152 cm full width (57 to 60 inches); 142 cm minimum cuttable (56 inches)
Finish: (Piece) dyed

(b) Knit Back Fabric:

Knit: 2 thread circular knit fleece (looped pile knit)
Face yarn: 120 metric/36 filament (75 denier/36 filament)
Fleece yarn: 120 metric/144 filament (75 denier / 144 filament
Machine Gauge: 24
Weight: 135 to 143 gm/sq meter (4.0 to 4.2 oz. sq yd)
Width: 150 to 155 cm (59 to 61 inches)
Finish: (Piece) dyed

NOTES: Face fabric treated with a durable water repellent finish; Fabrics joined with a dot matrix adhesive; Fleece fabric has a mechanical anti-pill finish achieved by shearing the technical back and tumbling in the presence of heat.

Responses are due by 01/10/2008.

Dept. of Commerce Announces Allocation of 2008 Cotton TRQ

The Department of Commerce has announced the allocation for Calendar Year 2008 of imports of certain cotton fabrics under tariff rate quotas established by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. The companies that are being provided an allocation are:

• The Hancock Company, DBA Gitman & Company - Ashland, PA
  
• Individualized Shirt Company - Perth Amboy, NJ
  
• Kenneth Gordon/IAG, Inc. - New Orleans, LA
  
• The Pickett Co., DBA Measure Up - Lafayette, TN
  
• Retail Brand Alliance - Enfield, CT

The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 created an annual tariff rate quota providing for temporary reductions through December 31, 2009 in the import duties of cotton woven fabrics suitable for making cotton shirts. The Act requires that the tariff rate quotas be allocated to entities which, during calendar year 2000, were manufacturers cutting and sewing men's and boys' cotton shirts in the United States from imported woven
fabrics of cotton.

What is Textile Connect?

Textile Connect is a website that was created and is maintained at the North Carolina State University College of Textiles with initial funding from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. It is designed to serve as an information warehouse that “connects” globaltextile event, product, market, and company information from government, industry, and academic sources to the North Carolina textile complex.

For more information visit http://www.nctextileconnect.com/

NTA Holiday Hours

National Textile Association's office will close early (at noon) on Monday, December 31st and will be closed Tuesday, January 1st, 2008. Wishing all a safe and prosperous New Year!

Tariff Classification of Flocked Ribbon

[Not quite] in time for the holidays, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a ruling (NY N020913, December 19, 2007) on the tariff classification of flocked ribbons from China.

The ribbons are composed of plastic sheets or strips measuring between ½" and 2½" wide. These plastic ribbons have been flocked on one side with nylon man-made fibers. According to CBP the tariff classification applicable for these ribbons is HTSUS 3921.90.1950, which provides for

other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of plastics, other than cellular, combined with a single textile material, other, weighing not more than 1.492 kg/m².

The rate of duty is 5.3 percent ad valorem.

Register Your Company in Free Dept. of Commerce "U.S. Suppliers Database"

The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel maintains a free listing of U.S. supliers of yarns and fabrics. Manufacturers may list themselves by going to the OTEXA website http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/, clicking on "U.S. Supplier Database" (about half way down the left margin menu) and following the link to "Add your company to the U.S. Suppliers Database" (after first searching to see if you are already in the database.)

Office of Textiles and Apparel Mission to Colombia in January 2008

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) will be making an exploratory mission to Colombia the week of January 21, 2008 to coincide with ColombiaTex 2008 (http://www.colombiatex.com/) in Medellin. This exploratory mission will aim to increase U.S. knowledge of the Colombian textile and apparel market and explore new opportunities with a Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA).

Under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), Colombia has strengthened apparel manufacturing and has become an important export market for U.S. yarn and fabric. U.S. exports of textile and apparel products to Colombia increased from $90 million in 2002 to $176 million in 2006. OTEXA believes the potential U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) represents further opportunities for U.S. yarn and fabric exports. All qualifying textile and apparel products will enter Colombia duty free upon implementation of the Agreement.

What the CAFTA-DR Changes Mean for Wool Textiles

On December 21, 2007, President George W. Bush issued a proclamation to implement amendments to CAFTA-DR granting additional textile and apparel concessions to our CAFTA-DR partners in return for a new rule of origin for pocketing. Several of the concession are in the nature of a single transformation for certain garments of wool. In other words, the usually fabric forward rule for wool apparel will not apply to these garments.

1. Concessions that will apply to all CAFTA-DR nations

The changes to a cut-and-sew rule for certain garments will permit the use of non-originating fabric in the component that determines the tariff classification (however, the visible lining rule, narrow elastic rule, sewing thread rule, and pocketing rule would apply as they do in the case of originating garments. A complete list of the specific garments affected by these changes is in Members-Only area of the NTA website.

Cumulation

The original CAFTA-DR provided for one million sme annual of cumulation with Mexico and Canada in wool apparel (i.e., Mexican or Canadian fabrics may be used). The amendment does away with any quantitative limitation on cumulation for wool tailored apparel of worsted wool with average fiber diameter greater than 18.5 microns. This modification will apply to all DR-CAFTA countries.

2. Consession that apply to only one nation

Nicaragua

The TPL, which originally was restricted to garments of cotton or man-made fiber will be expanded to include a sublimit of 1.5 million sme annually for men’s wool sport coats of woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair

Costa Rica

The original CAFTA-DR provided for an annual TPL of 500,000 sme for wool apparel assembled in Costa Rica (i.e., foreign fabric may be used) for two years. The rate of duty on imports under this TPL was to be 50 percent of the general rate of duty. Under the new agreement with Costa Rica, the rate of duty on the TPL is reduced to zero, and the TPL is extended to ten years. Additionally, the TPL is doubled to one million sme, with the additional 500,000 sme directed toward worsted wool fabrics with average fiber diameter greater than 18.5 microns. Carded wool and wool of 18.5 micron and finer will still qualify for the original 500,000 sme TPL.

Pakistan Opposition Leader Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated December 27 in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others. According to published reports the death of the former prime minister threw the campaign for the January 8 election into chaos and created fears of mass protests and an eruption of violence across the volatile south Asian nation.

Unsettled conditions in Pakistan, a major textile producing nation and acknowledged ally in America's war on terrorism, could affect U.S. and global textile trade and trade policy.

Paktistan is a major shipper of textile and apparel products to the U.S., especially in cotton categories. U.S. imports of cotton products of Pakistani origin in the period January through October 2007 totalled $2.5 billion, or over five percent of total U.S. imports in those categories.

President George W. Bush has repeatedly stated that Pakistan is a vital ally in the War on Terror and in March 2006 announced his intention to request Congress to authorize the creation of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Pakistan's border regions. The ROZs are intended to encourage investment by granting duty-free entry to the United States textile goods produced in the designated territories.

The ROZ proposal is not the first special concession to Pakistan since the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. In February 2002 the Bush Administration granted Pakistan a half billion dollars in textile quota concessions, calling that nation: "a key partner in the global coalition against terror."

President Bush Proclaims Implementation of CAFTA-DR "Pocketing Fixes"

On December 21, 2007, President George W. Bush issued a proclamation to implement amendments to CAFTA-DR granting additional textile and apparel concessions to our CAFTA-DR partners in return for a new rule of origin for pocketing.

In order to get CAFTA-Dr through the U.S. Congress in 2005, the Bush Administration promised to seek changes outlined in Rep. Bob Inglis' [R-SC] Press Release of July 25, 2005. They were, briefly:

• A change to the rule of origin to require that pocketing originate; and
  
• A change in the Nicaragua TPL to require, on a one-for-one basis, the use of U.S.-made trouser fabric in order to access the TPL for foreign fabric.

In return for these changes the U.S. agreed to a "single transformation" rule for several classifications of apparel including:

• Women's and girls' coats of cotton and man-made fiber
  
• Certain women's and girls' anoraks, windbreakers, and similar articles of wool, cotton, or man-made fibers
  
• Certain men's and boys' suit-type jackets and blazers
  
• Certain women's and girls' ensembles of man-made fibers
  
• Certain women's suit-type jackets and blazers of cotton
  
• Certain women's and girls' suit-type jackets and blazers
  
• Certain men’s cotton and man-made fiber yarn dyed dress shirts
  
• Certain infant dresses
  
• Certain women's and girls' jackets and jacket-type garments of wool or fine animal hair

A complete and detailed list of the concessions may be found in the Members-Only area of the NTA website

Textile Industry Files Comments on CAFTA-DR Short Supply Due Diligence

An industry coalition consisting of the

• American Fiber Manufacturers Association
  
• American Trade Action Coalition
  
• National Council of Textile Organizations
  
• National Textile Association
  
• U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute
  

has submitted comments to the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements concerning the due diligence requirement of the CAFTA-DR commercial availability procedures.

The comments address concerns regarding:

1. Communications between Requesters and Potential Suppliers:
   
2. Identification of Potential Suppliers:
   
3. Content of Communications between Requesters and Potential Suppliers:
   
4. Substitutability of Products:
   
5. Commercial Availability of a Production Input vs. Downstream Product
   
6. Potential Suppliers’ Responses to Requester’s Inquiry
   
7. Effective Use of Limited-Quantity Approvals:
   

The comments at available in the Members-Only area of the NTA website.

Reminder on Application of Visible Lining Rule

In response to members' questions about treatment of lining fabrics under the various free trade agreements--

Several of the free trade agreements (FTAs) to which the U.S. is a party contain a visible lining rule as regards apparel. There are five important points to keep in mind regarding the visible lining rule:

1. the rule is not necessarily the same in each FTA so you must be sure to consult the specific rule that applies to the country that concerns you;
   
2. the phrase visible lining means visible lining as defined in the legal text of the FTA (which is usually a more restrictive definition that the common English usage of the words visible and lining.
   
3. linings of certain fibers may be exempted from the rule.
   
4. the rule applies to lining in a garment not to the lining
   fabric while still in the form of rolls or lengths of fabric.
   
5. the rule applies to only those kinds of garments designated in the FTA as subject to the visible lining rule.

NTA members with questions about the application of the visible lining rule should contact David Trumbull at dtrumbull@nationaltextile.org (617) 542-8220 x2.

NTA Holiday Hours

National Textile Association's office will close early (at noon) on Monday, December 24th and will be closed Tuesday, December 25th. Wishing all Happy Holidays.

United States Wins WTO “Zeroing” Dispute with Mexico

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced today that a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has once again found in favor of the United States in a case involving the "zeroing" method for calculating ani-dumping duties. This case concerned a challenge by Mexico on the use of zeroing by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

When the U.S. Department of Commerce calculates a weighted average dumping margin for a given company, it typically takes into account numerous comparisons between sales in the United States and sales in the home market or third-country market (or costs in the home market). It is not uncommon for the Commerce Department to find that some comparisons reveal dumping (e.g., the price in the United States is lower than the home market price), while others reveal no dumping (e.g., the price in the United States is higher than the home market price). Where a comparison reveals no dumping, Commerce assigns a zero to that comparison, rather than a negative number equal to the amount by which the U.S. price exceeds the home market price. This practice is commonly referred to as “zeroing.”

Like other panels before, this panel found that the use of “zeroing” in investigations is WTO inconsistent.

Mexico has the option of appealing the report to the WTO Appellate Body.

Reminder to the Trade Regarding Tariff Classification of Flocked Fabric

From time to time we get inquiries regarding the tariff classification of flocked fabric; this is to remind the trade of the correct classification.

1. Textile substrates entirely covered with flock are classified in Chapter 59 as:
   
   • 5907.00.6000 Textile fabrics otherwise impregnated, coated or covered, of man-made fibers or
     
   • 5907.00.8000 Textile fabrics otherwise impregnated, coated or covered, of cotton.
     
2. Textile substrates partially covered with flock (such as those where some of the substrate shows through creating a pattern) are classified by the substrate with no regard to the flock coating.

These classifications are consistent with the chapter note to Chapter 59 which reads

"Heading 5907 does not apply to: Fabrics partially covered with flock, dust, powdered cork or the like and bearing designs resulting from these treatments; however, imitation pile fabrics remain classified in this heading;"

For confirmation see U.S. Customs Ruling (NY B87914, July 29, 1997).

Former NTA President Douglas C. Brown (1937-2007)

NTA notes with sadness the death of Douglas C. Brown (May 30, 1937-December 6, 2007), Ret. President, Homestead Woolen Mills Inc.

Mr. Brown's leadership positions at NTA from 1973 to 1982 included:

• NTA President 1979-1982;
  
• NTA Vice President, 1978;
  
• Wool Manufacturers Council Chairman, 1977-1979;
  
• Wool Manufacturers Council Executive Committee Member, 1973-1976.
  

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Sarah “Sally” (Gilda) Brown of Keene; his sons, Douglas M. Brown of Keene, Dixon C. Brown of Bend, Ore., and Daniel G. Brown of Dummerston Vt.; two brothers, Digby Brown of Salisbury, Conn., and Duncan Brown of Williamstown, Mass.; two sisters, Jane Reynolds and Ann Staples, both of Keene; his grandchildren, Ivy Brown, Emily Brown, Joanna Brown and Tucker Brown; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A brother, Derek Brown, died earlier.

The Obituary as published in the December 10, 2007, The Keene Sentinal is available at http://www.nationaltextile.org/people/brown_douglas_c.htm

Contributions be made in Mr. Brown’s memory to the Cheshire County YMCA, 32 Lake St., Swanzey 03446.

Federal Government to Close for December 24 and 25

President George W. Bush has issued an executive order directing all executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government to be closed and their employees excused from duty on Monday, December 24, 2007, the day before Christmas Day.

This order does not cover the U.S. Postal Service and most individuals and business will have mail delivered as usual on that day.

Cape Verde Set to Join WTO

On 18 December 2007, the General Council of the WTO cleared the path for Cape Verde’s membership in the WTO by approving a package of agreements which spell out the terms of Cape Verde’s accession.

Before becoming the 152nd member of the WTO, Cape Verde would have to ratify the deal by 30 June 2008. The accession process will be completed 30 days after ratification.

NTA Remembers Our Departed Colleagues

We pause to remember our colleague in the textile industry who passed away in 2007.

• Clarence M. Bishop, Pendleton Woolen Mills
  
  
• Roswell Brayton, Jr., Woolrich, Inc.
  
  
• Cliff Harvey, Vertipile, Inc. (Claremont Flock)
  
  
• Randall R. Martin, Fifield Inc.
  
  
• Christopher John O'Mara, O'Mara Incorporated
  
  
• Franklin Fuller Ripley, Troy Mills, May 24, 2007.

Man-Made Fiber Duty Suspension Bills Filed

Several bills have been filed in the U.S. House of Representatives to suspend the import duties on various man-made fibers. Each of these proposed duty suspensions will be considered for possible inclusion in a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). The bills, along with brief description are:

• certain acrylic fiber tow. [H.R.2456]
  
• certain acrylic synthetic staple fiber. [H.R.4578], [H.R.4579], [H.R.4472], [H.R.4471], [H.R.4473], [H.R.4470], [H.R.4465]
  
• certain synthetic staple fibers that are not carded, combed, or otherwise processed for spinning. [H.R.4418], [H.R.4417], [H.R.4436]
  
• acrylic or modacrylic synthetic filament tow. [H.R.4433]
  
• certain synthetic staple fibers that are not carded, combed, or otherwise processed for spinning. [H.R.4438], [H.R.4437], [H.R.4427], [H.R.4426], [H.R.4425], [H.R.4414], [H.R.4428], [H.R.4419], [H.R.4416], [H.R.4415], [H.R.4413]
  
• acrylic or modacrylic synthetic filament tow. [H.R.4435], [H.R.4434]
  

NTA will be analyzing the bills and submitting comments to the House Ways and Means Committee. At a first glance it appears that many of the bills are intended to extend the duration of existing duty suspensions relating to acrylic and which are set to expire in 2008 or 2009.

Note that the current duty suspensions in effect related to rayon, and which will expire in 2008 or 2009, were not included in the bills for consideration in the MTB.

Rep. Courtney Files Bills to Suspend Duty on Fine Animal Hair

On December 14, 2007 Representative Joe Courtney (Dem. Conn. 2nd) filed two bills to suspend the duty on certain fine animal hair yarns, specifically:

1. yarn of carded cashmere yarn coarser than 19.35 metric. [H.R.4474] and
   
2. yarn of carded camel hair yarn. [H.R.4475].
   

It is our understanding that no domestic U.S. manufacturer can be expected to object to these duty suspensions which are temporary and will expire at the end of 2011.

Mr. Courtney also filed bills to extend, through 2011, the existing duty suspensions in effect through 2009 with respect to nine other fine animal hair products:

1. noils of camel hair. [H.R.4483]
   
2. waste of camel hair. [H.R.4479]
   
3. camel hair, carded or combed. [H.R.4480]
   
4. fine animal hair of Kashmire (cashmere) goats. [H.R.4484]
   
5. camel hair, processed beyond the degreased or carbonized condition. [H.R.4478]
   
6. yarn of combed cashmere or yarn of camel hair. [H.R.4476]
   
7. yarn of carded cashmere of 19.35 metric yarn count or finer. [H.R.4477]
   
8. woven fabrics containing 85 percent or more by weight of vicuna hair. [H.R.4481]
   
9. camel hair, not processed in any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized condition. [H.R.4482]

NTA supports these eleven bills which will make the domestic U.S. wool and fine animal hair manufacturing industry more competive globally and promote U.S. textile employment.

Knitter Charbert to Close

The publication Southern Textile News (November 26, 2007) reports that Charbert Div. of Narrow Fabrics of America will close in early 2008, affecting about 100 workers in Alton, R.I.

Charbert does knitting, dyeing, and finishing of wide elastic fabrics for swimwear, intimate apparel, activewear, athletic, medical and non-apparel applications.

Season Greetings from NTA

SEASON GREETINGS FROM

NATIONAL TEXTILE ASSOCIATION

The staff of NTA wishes to extend our holiday greetings to you this holiday season with the hope that you and your family will enjoy many happy moments of peace and joy and have a safe and prosperous New Year!

Karl, David, Jane, Ella, Barry, Hardy and Lisa

Techtextil North America 2008 – Focusing on Innovation!

In 2008 NTA and our American Flock Association will again participate in the most comprehensive North American trade show and symposium for technical textiles and nonwovens, April 1–3, 2008, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Ga.

For more information see the Techtextil NA website http://www.techtextilna.com/

ISPO Europe’s premier sporting goods fair, Jan. 27-30, 2008

The U.S. Department of Commerce will showcase U.S. product samples and catalogs at an official U.S. Products Center and Catalog Show at ISPO Winter 2008, offering a convenient and affordable venue for marketing your firm’s sporting goods at Europe’s premier sporting goods fair.

Space is limited, so act now! This invitation closes January 10, 2008.

Textile Distributors Association Disbands

According to an account in todays WWD

Bruce Roberts, Executive Director, Textile Distributors Association

Roberts, who as executive director of the Textile Distributors Association presided over the group's final meeting last week, said: "It was a growth business, it was a domestic business and it was a great business. Not only was it a successful business, but it was fun and collegial. There was lots of competition, but they worked together in many cases."
Founded in 1938 as the Textiles Distributors Institute, the association sought to protect the domestic textile industry and champion causes such as establishing flame-resistant standards in apparel. The emergence of man-made fibers helped spur a boom in the domestic textiles industry between 1955 and 1975, a period in which the TDA and textile manufacturers had their greatest influence on the political scene and the apparel industry. Membership in the organization eventually reached 365. However, the rise of low-cost, overseas manufacturing was a force too great to overcome, and the TDA's sphere of influence and relevance steadily declined. In mid-November, about 25 of the remaining 50 members gathered at Sardi's restaurant here to lay the groundwork for dissolving the group.

NTA's Rayon Short Supply Request Published on OTEXA Website

The NAFTA short supply petition covering all rayon fiber for all end uses filed by the National Textile Association is now available for viewing or downloading on the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel website at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/nafta_short_supply.htm.

The request is a first-of-a-kind in that it will, if approved, apply to rayon fiber for all end uses. Over the years a number of NAFTA rayon short supply requests have been filed--and a few went all the way through the process to approval--but they were all traditional NAFTA request for a specific fiber for a specific end use. This is the first time that CITA has considered a broad change in the rule of origin for all textile products to allow the use of non-North American rayon fibers (other than ``lyocell''). The request was filed in October after lengthy discussions with CITA regarding this novel approach to a the problem of North American rayon supply.

Peru Trade Agreement May be Implemented by July

On December 14, 2007 President George W. Bush signed the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. According to published reports, earlier in the day, Peru's President Alan Garcia told a business audience that he hoped the agreement could be implemented by July at the latest.

In general the Peru TPA rule of origin for fabric is yarn forward, except for narrow elastic fabric (woven or knit) which is fabric forward.

For apparel the rule is

fabric forward plus finishing for certain visible linings,

yarn forward for essential character fabric,

fabric forward plus finishing for narrow elastic fabric,

yarn forward for sewing thread, and

fabric forward plus finishing for pocketing.

Compete details, including the exceptions to the above rules, are available at the Members-Only area of the NTA website.

CITA Announces 2008 Cap on Haitian Benefit

Today the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements announced the 2008 import cap for the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership for
Encouragement Act of 2006 (HOPE).

HOPE provides for duty-free treatment for certain apparel articles imported directly from Haiti and assembled, or knit-to-shape, in Haiti from fabrics and yarns of regional or third-country origin, subject to a very lax value-added requirement. The Act also imposes a cap on the quantity of goods eligible for this special benefit.

The 12-Month Cap on Duty-Free Benefits for the one-year period beginning on December 20, 2007 is 313,000,534 square meters equivalent.

More information on HOPE is available in the Members-Only area of the NTA website.

U.S. Extends Deadline in Honduran Socks Investigation

Today the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements announced that it is extending through January 18, 2008 the period for making a determination on whether to request consultations with Honduras regarding imports of cotton, wool and man-made fiber socks (merged Category 332/432 and 632 part).

If the safeguard is implemented tariffs from Honduras, which were eliminated when CAFTA went into effect in March 2006, could rise to as much as 18.8 percent and last for up to three years.

The treatment of socks is just one of several outstanding CAFTA-DR issues which include

Rolling implementation

Implementation of cumulation

Concessions for pocketing provision and changes to Nicaragua TPL

Correction of sewing thread provision

Detailed information on all these issues is available at the Members-Only area of the NTA website.

NTA's NAFTA Rayon Short Supply Request and CAFTA-DR

As reported in this Blog on Friday--

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has published (72 FR 71123) a request for public comment on short supply petition under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

The request, which was filed by the National Textile Association calls for modification of the NAFTA rules of origin for textile filaments, staple yarns, and woven fabrics and nonwoven and other textile articles from rayon fiber.

The request covers all rayon fibers (other than lyocell, for which there remains a U.S. supplier) for all end uses.

A NAFTA short supply request affects trade between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico (provided Mexico also approves it, which does not always happen.

The request will not change the rules for rayon for central American trade under CAFTA-DR. However, several rayon yarns and fibers are already short supply for CAFTA-DR--

Rayon filament sewing thread, classified in subheading 5401.20.

Tow of viscose rayon classified in heading 55.02.

Cuprammonium rayon filament yarn classified in subheading 5403.39.

Viscose rayon yarns classified in subheading 5403.31 or 5403.32.

NTA members can see a complete list of CAFTA-DR items containing rayon at the Member-Only NTA website.

Under the expedited short supply procedures of CAFTA-DR other products can be added to the CAFTA-DR short supply list upon application by a U.S. or CAFTA-DR region manufacturer (but not by a trade association, however a trade association may assist a manufacturer in drafting and filing the request). A CAFTA-DR short supply determination will be made by CITA within a few weeks.