Economic Census Forms are Due February 12

The U.S. Census Bureau today reminded millions of U.S. businesses that time is running out for returning 2007 Economic Census forms. Businesses that received forms are required by law to respond. The forms are due by February 12.

Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez calls answering the Economic Census "an act of good corporate citizenship." The Fed's Ben Bernanke calls the census "indispensable" and adds "returning your economic census form helps us all."

Meeting the February 12 deadline saves the government time and money. But businesses running out of time can get help with their form, or even request a 30-day extension, at the Census Bureau's business help site at www.census.gov/econhelp or call 1-800-233-6136.

CITA Calls Meeting of Columbia Sportswear and Polartec in Short Supply Dispute

CITA has scheduled a meeting with representatives of the interested entities in this proceeding: the requester, Columbia Sportswear Co. ("Columbia") and the responder, Polartec LLC ("Polartec"). The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, in Room 1410 of the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

The meeting is open to all interested parties. However, in accordance with section 8(c)(4) of the interim procedures, the purpose of the meeting is to allow the interested entities, Columbia and Polartec, to provide additional evidence to support their claims and information previously submitted to CITA.

Customs Eyes Changed Method for Determining Value

On January 24, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR 4254) Bureau of Customs and Border Protection published Proposed Interpretation of the Expression ``Sold for Exportation to the United States'' for Purposes of Applying the Transaction Value Method of Valuation in a Series of Sales.

``Transaction value'' is the primary method of appraising imported merchandise and is defined in 19 U.S.C. 1401a as ``the price actually paid or payable for merchandise when sold for exportation to the United States,'' plus specified additions to that amount. This document provides notice to interested parties that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposes a new interpretation of the phrase ``sold for exportation to the United States'' for purposes of applying the transaction value method of valuation in a series of sales importation scenario. CBP proposes that in a transaction involving a series of sales, the price actually paid or payable for the imported goods when sold for exportation to the United States is the price paid in the last sale occurring prior to the introduction of the goods into the United States, instead of the first (or earlier) sale. Under this proposal, transaction value will normally be determined on the basis of the price paid by the buyer in the United States. This proposed interpretation reflects the conclusions of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation as set forth in Commentary 22.1, entitled ``Meaning of the Expression `Sold for Export to the Country of Importation' in a Series of Sales.''

Comments must be received on or before March 24, 2008.

US to Impose Antidumping Duty on Laminated Woven Sacks form China

In the January 31, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR 5801)
the International Trade Administration published preliminarily determination that laminated woven sacks from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (``LTFV''), The dumping margins, which will be imposed as an additional duty on imports, were found to range from 63.89 percent to 108.09 percent. The antidumping duties will be applied to entries of laminated woven sacks from the PRC as described in the ``Scope of Investigation'' and are retroactive to 90 days ago.

Amb. Schwab on President's Trade Agenda

Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, USTR Post State of the Union Roundtable -- 29 January 2008

Ambassador Schwab: Good morning...The President said it all last night. The President was very clear in his intent and ambition when it comes to the trade agenda. We know we have a lot we need to get done in 2008. He talked about the Doha Round...he talked about the importance of seeing enactment into law of the three pending Free Trade Agreements. He talked about Trade Adjustment Assistance.

Question: Nestor Ikeda, AP reporter for Latin America. This is in regard to those three Free Trade Agreements pending discussion in Congress. The President has said that the U.S. administration is sending the Colombia agreement first. Does it mean that the President is looking to press the Congress for this discussion without even having the votes for in favor of the agreement?

Ambassador Schwab: Clearly our approach to the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement is to work in conjunction with the congressional leadership to make sure that the Colombia FTA gets a vote. Colombia deserves a vote and deserves a vote sooner rather than later...So the answer to your question is we look forward to working with the congressional leadership, Republicans and Democrats, to make sure that there’s a timely vote on the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, and we hope a strong bipartisan endorsement of that agreement.
...
Question: [Financial Review]. What...are real prospects for the Doha Round? I noticed the President made just a one-line reference, it seemed almost a glancing reference.

Ambassador Schwab: ...I think the prospects for Australia and the United States to continue working closely together to achieve a Doha Round outcome this year are pretty good...the President’s reference last night [to completing the Doha Round] was very substantive and very significant and a signal, designed as a signal not just to the Congress and to the American people but also to our trading partners. So I hope they picked it up.

Question: A quick follow-on. Could you discuss a little bit more on Doha with the mini-ministerial targeted for around Easter. What do you see as the scope of the horizontal discussion? Agriculture, NAMA, services? Or do you think it should be broader? And when the Trade Ministers inquired at Davos about the prospect for TPA, what is your answer?

Ambassador Schwab: You’ve asked a couple of questions. The conversations that I had last week in Europe, and you’ll recall I started out visiting Brussels, then went to Geneva for a day and then concluded a couple of days at the World Economic Forum. At the World Economic Forum I think we had a dozen and a half, perhaps two dozen Trade Ministers, so it was an opportunity for a lot of bilateral discussions as well as the panels that took place. One was sort of a closed panel with some business people. Then the public panel. Then the three hour meeting over lunch that the Ministers normally do.

A lot of the conversation had to do with timetable and scope. We had lengthy conversations about the juxtaposition of scope and speed and substance, which is to say if as we all appear to agree we want a successful conclusion of the Doha Round in 2008, and if you work backwards from a document that could be initialed at the end of the year then you need six to eight months to finalize schedules. So first to develop schedule and then to negotiate differences associated with the schedules, because no one’s going to, when we talk about flexibilities, there will be a negotiation as to what is or is not included or sheltered by virtue of flexibilities, whether it’s in agriculture or in NAMA for developing countries...

So you work backwards, and then during that six to eight month period you also have to negotiate in all of those negotiating groups where you aren’t going to have a conclusion as part of your modalities exercise.
...
You asked a question on Trade Promotion Authority. I have made a commitment, my approach to Trade Promotion Authority in terms of conversations with ministerial colleagues hasn’t changed, namely no one on the Hill is going to be willing to have a serious conversation with me about TPA unless and until we get a modalities breakthrough. At that point if we get a successful outcome on [Doha Round] modalities the Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee have both indicated their willingness to work with us on Trade Promotion Authority. Therefore, as soon as we have a breakthrough, if we have a breakthrough, I would intend to go up to the Hill and actively pursue Trade Promotion Authority. Recognizing at that point any vote on Trade Promotion Authority becomes de facto a proxy for the Doha development agenda.
...
Ambassador Schwab: At minimum, there was a lot of discussion last week among Ministers about the lack of balance in the ag and NAMA texts. Now depending on who you talk to, they’re either talking about technical balance, meaning level of specificity, or they’re talking about substantive balance. From the U.S. perspective, any lack of substantive balance is that there’s far more ambition in disciplining agricultural subsidies than there is in market access, either in agriculture or NAMA. We see that currently as a lack of balance.
...
Question: All three legs -- ag, NAMA and services have to be teed up?

Ambassador Schwab: In ag and NAMA, definitely; and in services, because the -- The answer is yes on services except the process is different. And the next major substantive process with any specificity in it is going to be the next exchange of offers. That exchange of offers is not likely to take place in advance of a ministerial...

Question: Rangel last night in his response to the State of the Union said that considering the Free Trade Agreements isn’t ripe because the administration hasn’t sent them up for consideration. What do you make of that?

Secondly, have you heard anything from the Democratic leadership specifically in terms of what they want from Colombia in order to support it? What I’ve heard is you want more. Have you heard specifically what more means?

Ambassador Schwab: I’m sorry to say I did not hear or read Chairman Rangel’s remarks so I can’t comment on them. I’m looking forward to going up and calling on the Chairman again in the near future so I can make sure I have a sense of how he would like to see this play out. I’ll be going up to visit Chairman Baucus. I’ll be going up to visit Senator Grassley, Congressman McCrery, and others in leadership positions. Again, to talk about calendars, positioning, and what we can be doing to make sure that this is a bipartisan, coordinated effort rather than something that’s confrontational.

In terms of the “to do” list, I think there is not enough clarity. I think there are a lot of individuals who are asking for “more” who have been reluctant or unable to define it. And one always has this issue of goal posts. And this, by the way, is true of the Doha Round, just as it’s true of any other kind of negotiation. You can set goal posts that are realistic but tough. You can set goal posts that are so extreme as to make it utterly impossible to meet them. You can set goal posts and keep moving them. And all three of those approaches are tried and true in any kind of negotiation. We’ll see how the conversations play out.

I think we do have a sense of things that Colombia could be doing more of. I think President Uribe has articulated some of them and Colombia, the government in Colombia has expressed their intent and desire to continue doing more because it’s the right thing to do. So our effort will be trying to bridge that gap.

Question: On the Doha Round, can you count backwards on TPA and estimate when you need to send the Colombia agreement to Congress?

Ambassador Schwab: I think we’ve pretty much covered that.

Ambassador Schwab: Jutta asked a question about the Andean preference extension, and obviously trade adjustment assistance, Andean preferences, are all part of the mix.

Thank you.

# # # #

Reminder: Responses to Rothschild Wool Coating Fabric Short Supply Request Due Jan. 31st

For more information see http://nationaltextile.blogspot.com/2008/01/rothschild-files-wool-coating-short.html

NTA Meetings Set for March 18 in New York

The National Textile Association Board of Government and Upholstery Fabrics Committee are both scheduled to meeting in New York City on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.

Glen Raven Files NAFTA Acrylic Short Supply Request

On January 14, 2008, the Chairman of CITA received a request from Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, alleging that certain solution dyed, wet spun acrylic fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning, classified under subheading 5503.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for warp pile fabrics, classified under HTSUS subheading 5801.35, should be modified to allow the use of non-North American solution dyed, wet spun acrylic fiber.

Comments must be submitted by February 25, 2008 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

Jim Fulks, Active in American Flock Association and NTA's Upholstery Fabrics Cmte

Beverly and Jim Fulks at the 154th NTA Annual Meeting, 2004

With sadness we report the sudden death, while in China on business, of James R. Fulks, Executive Vice President of Microfibres, Inc. Jim was well known to members of NTA's American Flock Association and Upholstery Fabrics Committee. He was serving (since November 5, 1999) as a member of the Executive Committee of the AFA and (since September 20, 2004) as a Director of NTA.

Milliken's Ashley Allen to Retire; Joe Salley to Lead Textile Giant

Mr. Roger Milliken, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Milliken & Company, has announced the pending retirement of Dr. Ashley Allen, current President & CEO of Milliken & Company, effective May 1, 2008, following Dr. Allen’s sixty-fifth birthday. Dr. Allen has led Milliken as President & CEO since 2005. Prior to his current position he served as Chief Operating Officer and in several leadership positions over his 38-year career, including President of Milliken’s Chemical Division.

Concurrent with Dr. Allen’s retirement, the Board of Directors of Milliken & Company has appointed Dr. Joe Salley to replace Dr. Allen, effective May 1, 2008. Dr. Salley will assume the President and CEO positions of Milliken & Company from his current position of Chief Operating Officer.

In making the announcement, Mr. Milliken said, “Joe Salley inherits the big shoes of Ashley Allen who has provided tremendous leadership to this private manufacturing company. In elevating Joe to the CEO leadership role, we are happy to again be promoting from within which is testimony to Milliken’s commitment to recruit, educate, challenge, and promote the best possible talent. Joe has done an excellent job in his present capacity and is well prepared for his new responsibilities.”

Joe Salley, 40, is a graduate of the Citadel with a B.S. degree in Chemistry. He received his Masters and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. He joined Milliken in 1994 and has held numerous leadership positions including President of the Performance Products Division, and President of Milliken Research Corporation.

Top Bidder for Riverpoint Lace Looks to Continue Operations

From today's Providence Journal--
WEST WARWICK — The top bidder at a receiver’s auction Wednesday of Riverpoint Lace Works — and the only bidder who brings the promise of continued employment for its 50 employees — yesterday was negotiating potential lease terms with the textile dyeing and finishing company’s landlord...Palmisciano-Ponte Investment Group LLC, based in Warwick, submitted the so-called going-concern bid of $250,000 for Riverpoint Lace Works, which the Hayes family has operated in the mill building since buying it in 1925. Other parties at Wednesday’s auction submitted bids on lots and individual pieces of equipment.

Reminder: Responses to Rothschild Wool Coating Fabric Short Supply Request Due Jan. 31st

For more information see http://nationaltextile.blogspot.com/2008/01/rothschild-files-wool-coating-short.html

CITA Extends Deadline for Decision in Knit Short Supply Filing

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

CITA will extend its time period for consideration of this request by an additional 14 U.S. business days because CITA has insufficient information to make a determination regarding the ability of a DR-CAFTA supplier(s) to supply the request based on the submitted information.

The request was filed December 26, 2007 by Columbia Sportswear Company. Polartec submitted an offer to supply the fabric and Columbia Sportwear has filed an official rebuttal to that offer. CITA's new project completion date is February 26th.

NTA Applauds NCTO's New Customs Fraud Report Tool

On January 14, 2008 the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) announced that it had begun an online customs fraud reporting system and was distributing new customs fraud reporting urging anyone who is aware of customs fraud in textiles and apparel to utilize the forms. NTA applauds NCTO initiative and is pleased to assist in data collection for this important undertaking.

The new tools include a one page form that can be filed out online and sent electronically to NTA for forwarding to NCTO on a confidential basis. NCTO will then forward the information to U.S. Customs and can, if requested, delete the reporter’s name. All information will be held on a business confidential basis. The new forms are available at http://www.nationaltextile.org/library/ipr/NCTO_Fraud_Alert_Form.pdf as well as on NCTO's website.

The forms were developed in consultation with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and are designed to streamline the reporting process and provide more detailed information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

NTA's Rayon Flock Short Supply Request

As previously reported NTA has filed with the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements a NAFTA short supply request with regard to rayon fiber for all uses in textile products. The public comment period has ended and all comments received (NCTO, INDA, and Brand Felt of Canada) were affirmative as regards the entire request. NTA urges our government promptly to request consultation with our NAFTA partners. Note that this request, if approved, would cover all rayon products the subject of several outstanding requests, includings a December 2005 request regarding rayon flock made from man-made staple fiber and tow and which has been languishing at CITA with no action. That request filed by Cellusuede Products, Inc. a member of NTA's American Flock Association drew opposition, in part, from the American Fiber Manufacturers Association.

Sale of Assets of Riverpoint Lace

Today's Providence Journal reports on the auction of assets of West Warwick, Rhode Island, textile company Riverpoint Lace. Full text of the story is available at http://www.projo.com/business/content/WB_wwlace_01-24-08_5T8NO9R_v13.2a364a2.html#

Rep. McDermott Files AGOA Amendments

On January 17, 2008, Rep Jim McDermott [WA-7] filed H.R.5059, a bill to amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act with respect to lesser developed countries

The bill would add Mauritius to the list of nations eligible for AGOA's special provisions related to lesser-developed-countries (LDCs).

The bill also would repeal a 2006 amendment to AGOA which provided for duty-free entry for apparel articles produced in lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries of yarn or fabric produced in beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries and determined to be available in commercial quantities for use by lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.

NTA is studying the likely effect of this bill.

CCMI's Karl Spilhaus on MSN Green

Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute president Karl Spilhaus was recently interview by MSN Green for an online article Connect the Dots: Where Did That Cheap Cashmere Sweater Come From?, saying:

“There’s an environmental impact from the demand pressure for low-priced cashmere… in the pressure on the goat herders. The goats really do harm the desert environment where they raise them...There are dyestuffs and chemicals that are employed that have to be properly treated before they’re disposed of...The problem is the demand for cashmere and everybody trying to get in there and make a low-priced product. It puts more pressure on people to cut corners.”

The complete story may be read at http://green.msn.com/galleries/photos/photos.aspx?gid=153>1=10832.

Under Secretary of Commerce to Address "Economic Engagement with a Rising China"

The Center for Strategic and International Studies has announced a January 30, 2008, speech by Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade on "Economic Engagement with a Rising China"

Under Secretary Padilla will preview the Administration's stance on trade and economic relations with China for the coming year, focusing on responses to concerns of Congress and the general public about Chinese trade practices that affect U.S. interests. He will also discuss the challenge of strengthened economic integration with China and the need for the intelligent use of leverage given the dynamic political and economic context on both sides of the Pacific. He will answer questions from the audience after his speech.

WTO Report on Pakistan's Textile Policies

The World Trade Organization has published Trade Policy Review: Pakistan, finding that:

• Generous SBP (State Bank of Pakistan) concessionary finance to exporters, especially of textiles and clothing, has distorted industrial incentives.
  
  However
  
  
• Pakistan has been unable to benefit from the quota abolition due to its high costs, low labour productivity, and inefficient production processes.

The report on Pakistan's textile industry may be found at Trade Policies by Sector

Among the finding in the report:

• Pakistan is a leading exporter of textiles and clothing, and production remains its single most important industry, accounting for 10.5% of GDP.
  
• Based on locally grown and imported cotton, and concentrated in the preliminary processing stages, it is dominated by cotton textiles, clothing, synthetic/manmade fibres, carpets, and jute products.
  
• Current goals formulated by the Ministry of Textile Industry are for exports to increase to US$14.5 billion by 2009, and for reduced reliance on cotton, given rising trends towards using synthetic and blended fabrics, by raising the share of man-made fibres from 18% to 50%.
  
• Tariffs, of up to 35% in 2007/08, are the main border measure assisting the industry.
  
• Recent growth has been aided by several assistance packages. Measures include incentives to upgrade technology, such as income tax concessions, and gradual lowering of tariffs on imported textile machinery and parts to encourage investment for balancing, modernization, and rehabilitation, along with various tariff and sales tax concessions/exceptions on raw materials.
  
• Research and development grants based on exports to most markets also apply.
  
• The State Bank provides long-term financing for export-oriented projects at concessionary rates.
  
• Labour law amendments in 2006 benefited the industry, especially by fixing minimum labour wages on an hourly basis.
  
• A major government initiative is the establishment of textile and garment cities, based on private-public partnership in Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, to promote value-added production by providing modern infrastructure and clustered development based on foreign investment.
  
• The Government is also considering another major incentives package totalling over PRs 29 billion following recommendations by the National Textile Strategy Committee.
  
• Because of its competitiveness, Pakistan is one of the countries expected to benefit most from the new quota-free regime. However, while textile production is likely to expand, the clothing segment may contract as it faces greater overseas competition: its real income could decline overall unless productivity improves substantially to capture the potential benefits arising from abolishing quotas. The authorities indicate that so far Pakistan has been unable to benefit from the quota abolition due to its high costs, low labour productivity, and inefficient production processes. Raising productivity by 60% to match Chinese levels could result in annual welfare gains to Pakistan of over US$1 billion.

USTR Announces Results of IPR Review for the Czech Republic

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab today announced the results of USTR's Out-of-Cycle Review of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement in the Czech Republic under the “Special 301” provisions of U.S. trade law. As a result of the review, the Czech Republic will be placed on the Special 301 Watch List.

The Czech Republic was not included on the Watch List or the Priority Watch List in the 2007 Special 301 Report, released in April 2007, but USTR announced that it would conduct an Out-of-Cycle Review to monitor progress in addressing concerns regarding the lack of adequate protection and enforcement of intellectual property in the Czech Republic, especially with respect to sales of pirated and counterfeit goods in its notorious markets.

Additional Acrylic/Modacrylic Duty Suspension Bills

To the list of acrylic/modacrylic duty suspension bills posted January 17th, please note these additions, filed by Howard Coble [NC-6]. Here are the bill numbers with NTA position:

1. H.R.4439, NTA Supports, Acrylic or modacryloc filament tow.
   
2. H.R.4440, NTA Supports, Acrylic or modacrylic staple fiber.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2008 CTI-DND Conf. & Military Textiles and Personal Equipment Trade Show

The 2008 CTI-DND (Canadian Textiles Institute-Department of National Defense) Conference & Military Textiles and Personal Equipment Trade Show will take place on Wednesday, Thursday, April 2 & 3, 2008 (with booth set-up on Tuesday, April 1) at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel (Ottawa, Canada).

For more information see http://www.textiles.ca.

Sustainable Textiles Conf. April 15th in Montreal

The Sustainable Development Working Committee for the Canadian textile industry plans its first conference on the subject of “Sustainable Development in the Canadian Textile Industry”. During this conference, they propose to present new on-line guide to sustainable development best practices and will present several important conferences from noted industry experts.

The conference will be held in Montreal (Quebec) on Tuesday April 15th 2008.

For more information, please contact: The Secretary groupetextile@videotron.ca or 450-372-3417

U.S. Wool Fabric Production and Imports Down, Yarn Production Down, With Shift Away from Woolen

U.S. Census Bureau data for third quarter 2007 show total domestic production of wool and wool blend fabrics of 4.5 million square meters, up from 4.1 million square meters in the second quarter but down from 5 million square meters in third quarter 2006.

Third quarter imports of wool and wool blend fabrics were 5.6 million square meters, down from 6.5 million square meters in the second quarter and down from 6.5 million square meters in third quarter 2006.

Production of carded yarn of wool or wool blend totaled 832 metric tons in third quarter 2007, down from 1,146 metric tons in the second quarter and down from 1,750 metric tons in the third quarter of 2006. Imports of carded yarn of wool or wool blend totaled 749 metric tons in third quarter 2007, up from 631 metric tons in the second quarter and up from 324 metric tons in third quarter 2006.

Production of combed yarn of wool or wool blend totaled 887 metric tons in third quarter 2007, down from 965 metric tons in the second quarter but up from 694 metric tons in third quarter 2006. Imports of combed yarn of wool or wool blend totaled 758 metric tons in third quarter 2007, down from 736 metric tons in the second quarter and down from 868 metric tons in the third quarter of 2006.

Combined woolen and worsted yarn production which was 2,444 metric tons in third quarter 2006 fell to 1,719 metric tons in third quarter 2007.

[Source: U.S. Department of Commerce Economic and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau Textiles: Third Quarter 2006 (MQ313A(06)-3) and Textiles: Third Quarter 2007 (MQ313A(07)-3).]

Reminder: Tariff Classification of Dehaired Cashmere

Reminder to the trade.
U.S. Customs Service in a Binding Ruling (HQ 950906, dated October 30, 1992) held that dehairing advances the fiber's classification to 5102.10.90 but not to heading 5105 (which would require carding or combing beyond the dehairing process). However, that same ruling letter also states that dehairing does not change the country of origin of the fiber. In the case at hand in the ruling, cashmere from Afghanistan was dehaired in the U.K. and Customs held that dehairing changed the classification to 5102.10.90 but that the country of origin remained Afghanistan.

Two later rulings (HQ 956734 of October 13, 1994 and NY G84792 of December 1, 2001) rely on and confirm the October 1992 ruling.

Dick Fifield, Former President and Owner of Fifield Inc. Passed Away Saturday

We have just been informed that Dick Fifield, the former President and owner of Fifield Inc. passed away Saturday morning. No further details are available at this time.

The following is copied from the company website:

Under the direction of Charles Fifield, and later, his son Richard, the company grew and prospered. Its first product was a protective flannel, which was designed for the silver industry. During the 1930s, while remaining the premier supplier to the silver industry, Fifield began developing other fabrics other flannel as covers for loose-leaf binders and ledgers. These cotton flannels were also used for lining wicker baby carriages. Later, Fifield upgraded this variety of flannels with a range of colors and styles that were used as inter- linings. During the 1960s, Fifield developed Fi-Vel™, the company’s first trademarked product. This economical simulated velvet was used for jewelry display boxes and by the silver industry for bags and chest linings. The cost-effective value of this soft and plush fabric encouraged both industries to use flocked fabrics. In the late 1970s, Fifield’s vice-president Randall Martin purchased the company from Richard Fifield.

Martin King Jr. Day

Monday, January 21st is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is a Federal
and Massachusetts State Holiday. The NTA Boston office will be open with regular business hours.

U.S. to Apply Safeguard to Honduran Socks

WASHINGTON – The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) today announced it has voted to notify Honduras of its intent to apply a textile safeguard measure on cotton socks imported into the United States. CITA is an interagency committee, chaired by Matt Priest, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel for the Department of Commerce. CITA includes representatives from the Departments of State, Treasury, and Labor, and the United States Trade Representative.

“CITA reached this decision after careful consideration of all available information and comments submitted by all interested parties. The substantial increases in imports of cotton socks from Honduras found during the investigation have led CITA to move forward with the safeguard process in accordance with the Agreement,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Matt Priest. “The Administration takes its trade agreements very seriously and remains committed to upholding its responsibilities under the DR-CAFTA Agreement.”

CITA made a determination that a safeguard measure is warranted with respect to imports of Honduran origin cotton socks based on the substantial growth in imports from Honduras. Imports of cotton socks from Honduras were 27.3 million dozen pairs through the first eleven months of 2007, an increase of 99% from the same period a year earlier. Based on the substantial level of imports of cotton socks, CITA determined that it will not, at this time, make a determination to apply a safeguard measure with respect to wool and man-made fiber socks.

The DR-CAFTA Agreement provides that, following receipt of written notice, Honduras may request consultations, which must be concluded within 60 days. CITA will then have 30 days to make its final determination on whether to apply a safeguard measure.

See Federal Register Notice.

NTA Supports Wool and Fine Animal Hair Duty Suspension

Bills relating to wool or fine animal hair

1. H.R.4474, NTA Supports, Yarn of carded cashmere coarser than 19.35 metric, (Courtney [CT-2]) New.
   
2. H.R.4475, NTA Supports, Yarn of carded camel hair, (Courtney [CT-2]) New.
   
3. H.R.4476, NTA Supports, Yarn of combed cashmere or yarn of camel hair, (Courtney [CT-2]).
   
4. H.R.4477, NTA Supports, Yarn of carded cashmere of 19.35 metric count or finer, (Courtney [CT-2]).
   
5. H.R.4478, NTA Supports, Camel hair processed beyond the degreased or carbonized condition, (Courtney [CT-2]).
   
6. H.R.4479, NTA Supports, Waste of camel hair, (Courtney [CT-2]).
   
7. H.R.4480, NTA Supports, Camel hair, carded or combed, (Courtney [CT-2]).
   
8. H.R.4481, NTA Supports, Woven fabrics containing 85 percent or more by weight of vicuna hair, (Courtney [CT-2]).
   
9. H.R.4482, NTA Supports, Camel hair not processed in any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized condition, (Courtney [CT-2]).
   
10. H.R.4483, NTA Supports, Noils of camel hair, (Courtney [CT-2]).
    
11. H.R.4484, NTA Supports, Fine animal hair of Kashmire (cashmere) goats, (Courtney [CT-2]).

3rd Qtr U.S. Knit Fabic Production Down 19% from 2006

U.S. Census Bureau data for third quarter 2007 show total knit fabric production of 157 million pounds, down nine million pounds from the second quarter and down 19 percent from third quarter 2006 production of 194 million pounds.

Total production of (wide) warp knit fabric was 51 million pounds in third quarter 2007, down from 58 million pounds in the second quarter and 51.4 million pounds in third quarter 2006. Of the total 51 million pounds of warp knit fabric production in third quarter 2007 elastic fabrics accounted for 6 million pounds, pile fabrics 20 million pounds, and all other warp knit fabrics 25 million pounds.

Total production of (wide) weft knit fabric was 100 million pounds in third quarter 2007, down from 104 million pounds in the second quarter and 121 million pounds in the third quarter 2006. Of the total 100 million pounds of weft knit fabric production in third quarter 2007 elastic fabrics accounted for 1.9 million pounds.

Total production of narrow (12 inches or less in width) knit fabric was 4.9 million pounds in third quarter 2007, down from 5.6 million pounds in the second quarter and 5.8 million pounds in the third quarter of 2006. Of the 4.9 million pounds of narrow knit fabric production in third quarter 2007 elastic fabrics accounted for 3.6 million pounds.

[Source: U.S. Department of Commerce Economic and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau Textiles: Third Quarter 2006 (MQ313A(06)-3) and Textiles: Third Quarter 2007 (MQ313A(07)-3).]

Online Apparel Retailer Settles FTC Charges That It Failed to Safeguard Consumers’ Sensitive Information, in Violation of Federal Law

An apparel company that collected sensitive consumer information and pledged to keep it secure has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its security claims were deceptive and violated federal law. The order against Life is good, Inc. and Life is good Retail, Inc. bars deceptive claims about privacy and security policies and requires that the companies implement a comprehensive information-security program and obtain audits by an independent third-party security professional every other year for 20 years.

For more information see FTC press release at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/01/lig.shtm

More Industry Support for NTA's Rayon Short Supply Petition

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Inudstry (INDA) has written the the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements supporting NTA's NAFTA short supply petition regarding rayon fiber, saying:

"INDA applauds the National Textile Association's request for an even broader change to the rule of origin for textile products."

Bed, Bath & Beyond Settles Thread Count Suit

According to Home Textiles Today Specialty retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has begun notifying customers of a preliminary settlement in a class action law suit charging that it misrepresented thread counts in sheets and other products.

More details are available at the Bed Bath & Beyond website --
http://www.bbbthreadcountsettlement.com/.

Acrylic and Modacrylic Duty Suspension Bills

Representatives Sanford Bishop [GA-2], Howard Coble [NC-6], and Lincoln Davis [TN-4] have filed a total of 25 duty suspension bills relating to acrylic and modacryic fiber. Here are the bill numbers with NTA position and name of congressional sponsor:

1. H.R.2456, NTA Supports, Acrylic fiber tow, (Davis [TN-4]).
   
2. H.R.4413, NTA Supports, Modacrylic staple fiber, (Coble [NC-6]).
   
3. H.R.4414, NTA Supports, Acrylic staple fiber, (Coble [NC-6]).
   
4. H.R.4415, NTA Supports, Modacrylic staple fiber, (Coble [NC-6]).
   
5. H.R.4416, NTA Supports, Acrylic staple fiber, (Coble [NC-6]).
   
6. H.R.4417, NTA Supports, Acrylic staple fiber, (Coble [NC-6]).
   
7. H.R.4418, NTA Supports, Acrylic staple fiber, (Coble [NC-6]).
   
8. H.R.4419, NTA Supports, Modacrylic staple fiber, (