11th CTI-DND Conf. Military Textiles Trade Show, April 2-3, Ottawa

11th CTI-DND CONFERENCE & MILITARY TEXTILES AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT TRADE SHOW, April 2-3, 2008 - Fairmont Château Laurier (Ottawa, Canada)

Monday, MARCH 3, 2008 - Deadline to make HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Wednesday, MARCH 5, 2008 - Deadline to book TRADE SHOW EXHIBIT BOOTHS

Friday, MARCH 7, 2008 - Deadline for Exhibitors to submit company profiles for inclusion in the SHOW GUIDE

Please also note that Monday, MARCH 17, 2008 is the deadline:

• for Exhibitors to submit their form to become a SPONSOR OF THE RECEPTION AND WINE AT DINNER ON APRIL 2
  
• Deadline to Register as a Conference Delegate AT THE LOWER REGISTRATION RATES

Visit CTI's website at http://www.textiles.ca and follow the links to download the CONFERENCE and TRADE SHOW NOTICES which include all the necessary information and registration/reservation forms for this year's conference and trade show, and to make hotel reservations.

European Outdoor Show, Friederichshafen, Germany, July 17-20

The Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce is considering sponsoring a USA Sample/Catalogue Pavilion at the upcoming European Outdoor Show (EOS) in Friederichshafen, Germany July 17-20, 2008. The EOS is a major international trade show focusing on active sports apparel, equipment, and related accessories. It is similar to ISPO show in Munich held two weeks prior to the EOS, but EOS has a slightly narrower focus on outdoor sports, and related activities. The 2007 EOS attracted over 700 exhibitors from 40 countries, and had approximately 10-15,000 buyers, agents, and distributors attending.

The preliminary estimated costs for a sample booth would be about $1,000 per company plus VAT and personal service requirements, if any. This estimate also is based on current exchange rates and 8-10 companies participating using 30-40 sqm of space. If more or less companies participate, the costs will be adjusted up or down as necessary.

If you are interested in participating in this Pavilion, please reply to OTEXA by e-mail along with your company name, brief description of your product line, street address (No P.O. Boxes), fax, and phone number. OTEXA will send you a Participation Agreement with the final pricing and instructions on how and where to send your samples.

OTEXA CONTACT:

Lawrence J. Brill
Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA)
(202) 482-1856
(202) 482-2859 fax
Lawrence_Brill@ita.doc.gov

News

From the Thursday, February 28, 2008, Boston Herald. I must keep this in midn when I wee typos in our headings.

Culp Reports Increased Sales of Imported Kits

HIGH POINT, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2008--Culp, Inc. (NYSE: CFI) today reported financial and operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended January 27, 2008.

Sales of upholstery fabrics, which include both fabric and cut and sewn kits, were $29.6 million, a 5.5 percent decline compared with $31.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Total fabric yards sold declined by 12 percent, while average selling prices were approximately five percent higher than the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Sales of cut and sewn kits were up significantly over the same period last year. Upholstery fabrics sales reflect very weak demand industry wide, as well as continued soft demand for U.S. produced upholstery fabrics driven by consumer preference for leather and suede furniture and other imported furniture and fabrics. Sales of non-U.S. produced fabrics were $20.2 million in the third quarter, up 17 percent over the prior year period, while sales of U.S. produced fabrics were $9.4 million, down 33 percent from the third quarter of fiscal 2007. The year over year growth in non-U.S. produced fabrics reverses a trend reflected in the results for the previous two fiscal quarters. Operating income for the upholstery fabrics segment for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $395,000 compared with an operating loss of $496,000 for the same period a year ago.

House Agrees to Dec. 31st Extension of Andean Preferences

On February 27, by a voice vote, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an extention through December 31st of the existing Andean region trade preferences which are set to expire February 29th. The bill has not yet been voted in the Senate. The Andean beneficiary countries are Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Dropped from the bill where other provisions modifying the Generalized System of Preferences and extensions and modifications to the other textile and apparel preference programs CBPTA (Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act) and AGOA (Africa Growth and Opportunity Act).

Costa Rica Given Until Oct. 1st to Join CAFTA

U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced February 27th a multi-party agreement that will provide more time for Costa Rica to join the Dominican Republic–Central America– United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), saying:

“I am pleased to announce that the United States and its five CAFTA-DR partners (the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) have agreed to provide additional time for Costa Rica to complete the legislative and regulatory steps required to join the CAFTA-DR...The people of Costa Rica approved the CAFTA-DR in a national referendum in October 2007...Today’s agreement will give Costa Rica until October 1, 2008, although we hope that Costa Rica will complete its implementing process before that date."

Under terms of the CAFTA-DR (Article 22.5) unanimous consent of all CAFTA-DR partners is required to permit a country to implement later than March 1, 2008. It is unclear what if any further consessions were given to Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua to obtain consent to the late entry of Costa Rica.

CPSC Staff to Speak March 20th on Home Furnishings Flammability

On Thursday, March 20, 2008, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff members

Dale Ray, Directorate for Economic Analysis, and
Shivani Mehta and Allyson Tenney, Directorate for Engineering Sciences,

will be speaking at the

American Home Furnishings Alliance flammability update on What you Don’t Know Can Hurt You; 8:30 a.m., Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel, Greensboro, N.C.

For additional information contact Dale Ray, (301) 504-7704.

The Apparel Group, Ltd. Files Foreign Trade Zone Petition

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, grantee of FTZ 39, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the apparel warehousing and distribution facility of The Apparel Group Ltd. (TAG), located in Lewisville, Texas.

The TAG facility (150 employees/26 acres/153,750 sq.ft.) is located at 883 Trinity Drive in Lewisville (Denton County), Texas. The facility is used for warehousing and distribution of foreign-origin apparel for the U.S. market and export. FTZ procedures would be utilized to support TAG's distribution activity. Finished apparel products to be admitted to the proposed subzone for distribution would include men's, boys', women's and girls' coats, suits, jackets, trousers, pants, blouses, shirts, tops, jumpers, gowns, underwear, hosiery, pajamas, robes, athletic wear, neckties, scarves, shawls, mufflers, gloves/mittens, uniforms, and infants' apparel. Certain textile fabrics (wool, cotton, man-made fiber) would also be distributed from the proposed subzone.

All foreign-origin apparel and textile products classified under Textile Import Quota categories will be admitted to the proposed subzone under privileged foreign status (19 CFR Sec. 146.41) or domestic (duty paid) status (19 CFR Sec. 146.43). The applicant is not seeking manufacturing or processing authority with this request.

FTZ procedures would exempt TAG from customs duty payments on foreign products that are re-exported (about 4% of shipments). On domestic sales, duty payments would be deferred until the foreign merchandise is shipped from the facility and entered for U.S. consumption. Certain logistical/supply chain management efficiencies would also be realized through subzone status. The application indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the facility's international competitiveness.

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions (original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is April 28, 2008. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to May 12, 2008.

Ways and Means Seeks Comments on Tariff Bills

On February 25, 2008 the House Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Trade announced that the Subcommittee was requesting written comments for the record from all parties interested in miscellaneous duty suspension proposals and corrections to the trade laws. The deadline for the public to submit written comments to the Committee is Thursday, April 10, 2008.

Freudenberg Nonwovens To Shut Down Two Automotive Lines In Kentucky

Textile World reports that Freudenberg Nonwovens has announced it will shut down two production lines in Kentucky.

Wellman Files For Chapter 11 Reorganization

Textile World reports that Fort Mill, S.C.-based polyester fiber and packaging resins manufacturer Wellman Inc. has filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for the Southern District of New York.

Coalition To Address Government Procurement

James A. Morrissey, Washington Correspondent for Textile World reports

Four major textile trade associations have formed a new coalition to address ways to improve federal government procurement of textiles and textile end products such as uniforms, protective clothing, shelters and a wide variety of other items. The coalition, known as the Textile Industry Coalition on Government Procurement, organized by the National Textile Association (NTA), includes NTA, National Council of Textile Organizations, the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition and the Industrial Fabrics Association International.

For the rest of the story go to the Textile World website

Australia Rayon Short Supply Request

On February 1, 2008, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements received a request from Gentry Mills, alleging that certain viscose rayon fiber, classified in subheading 5504.10.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic or Australian industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the USAFTA rule of origin for 52% viscose/48% polyester blended yarn, classified under HTSUS subheading 5510.90.2000 should be modified to allow the use of non-U.S. and non-Australian viscose rayon fiber.

Comments must be submitted by March 27, 2008. to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Flaaten, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058.

Here Let Us Stop

“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop.”

—George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796

Poor George, both revered and kicked around by us. He was born February 11th but when he was 20 Britain and her colonies finally switched to the Gregorian Calendar, moving his birthday to the 22nd of the month. Then, starting in 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved the official celebration of his birth to the third Monday in February. In popular parlance we slight our first President by neglecting the legal name of the holiday, WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY and refer to it as a generic “Presidents’ Day”.

We likewise neglect Washington’s sage warning against entangling foreign alliances. Even in our commercial relations our leaders, not content merely to trade with the rest of the world, have entered into binding agreements restricting our ability to control our own commerce, to encourage domestic manufacturing, or even to protect our citizens from unsafe products. Our legal obligations to the World Trade Organization and our bilateral and multilateral trade agreements entangle us in a network of supra-national laws that can, effectively, overturn the actions of our elected Congress and President.

Imports of unsafe toys were, briefly leading up to Christmas 2007, a big news story. After years of shopping only for price, Americas woke up to find that an estimated 75 percent of all toys on the market were the products of one nation—China—which had been exposed as tolerating a manufacturing industry criminally unconcerned with the safety of her consumers half-way ‘round the globe. Worse, Americans found they had few options. Decades of failed public policy had driven much light manufacturing from our States where we could have monitored working conditions and inputs. Binding WTO obligations prohibited the U.S. taking any effective prompt and broad action to restrict imports from a known offender.

That leaves The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a relatively small federal bureaucracy, in charge of protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Daily the CPSC issues new notice of recall of some product or other than is a risk for explosion, fire, strangulation, lead poisoning or other threat to human health, safety or even life.

In my industry, textiles, CPSC has already in 2008 issued three notices of recall of dangerous—, potentially fatally so—consumer products. It will be no surprise to anyone who has followed the news that all three involved imported—Chinese and Korean—products. On our industry association blog, http://nationaltextile.blogspot.com/ I have started posting, as a public service, links to CPSC recalled of textile and apparel products. The safe consumer is the informed consumer—Caveat emptor.

U.S. Customs Officers to Visit Hong Kong Factories in March

As reported on http://www.gov.hk/

Hong Kong and U.S. Customs officers will conduct joint factory observation visits in Hong Kong from March 6.

Customs Head of Trade Controls Cheung Sai-yan said the joint visits are part of the ongoing co-operation between Hong Kong and the U.S. to facilitate legitimate textiles and clothing trade between the two places, and to combat illegal trans-shipment of textiles and clothing products.

"The joint visits will keep the US up-to-date on the manufacture of textiles and clothing products in Hong Kong and the implementation of Hong Kong's origin-control programme for textiles and clothing exports.

"The visits will also facilitate a better understanding by the U.S. Customs authorities of the effectiveness of Hong Kong's origin-control system in ensuring that textiles and clothing exports claiming to be products of Hong Kong are genuinely manufactured in Hong Kong," Mr Cheung said.

"This will also be conducive to greater facilitation for the legitimate textiles trade, especially at a time when restrictive measures are still in place against certain textiles exports from other economies in the region," he added.

The joint teams will visit only those textile factories which have given prior consent. Enforcement, if necessary, will be undertaken only by Hong Kong Customs, independently and separately from the visits.

The visits will last for about two weeks and will not disrupt the factories' normal production and operation.

Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative Presentations

NTA's David Trumbull attended, Friday, February 8, 2008, the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative (MassDTI) Natick Alliance meeting in Natick, Mass. At the meeting the new MassDTI Executive Director, General Donald J. Quenneville was introduced to the region's defense technology professionals.

The meeting slides and the previous meeting slides of December 13, 2007, are available to NTA members on our website.

The next Natick Science and Tech Board meeting will be held at Natick Soldier Systems Center on February 21, 2008, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please let Len Dube (len.dube@us.army.mil) and Donald Quenneville (q@defensetech.net) know if plan to attend.

Tariff Classification of Sheets and Pillowcases from Pakistan

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a letter dated February 11, 2008 has ruled on the tariff classification of sheets and pillowcases from Pakistan.

Customs Rules Knit Dress of Chinese Fabric Not CAFTA Eligible

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a letter of February 14, 2008 has ruled that a dress cut and sewn in Guatemala of knit elastomeric fabric of Chinese origin is not eligible for CAFTA and will be subject to 16 percent rate of duty.

Businesses: Don't Hold Out on America

If your business received a 2007 Economic Census form in December, and you returned it on time, the National Textile Association thanks you. But if you missed the Feb. 12 deadline, we urge you to seek a 30-day extension and complete the form as soon as possible. Businesses that received forms are required by law (Title 13 of the U.S. Code) to respond.

In today's changing economy, timely and relevant facts and figures are essential for sound business and government decision making. The Economic Census is the primary benchmark for measuring 96 percent of the gross domestic product. Ben Bernanke has said, "The Economic Census is indispensable to understanding America's economy."

Businesses can request a 30-day reporting extension, or get help with their form, via the Internet (http://business.census.gov) or by calling a toll-free number (800) 233-6136 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.

Once you have sent your figures in, take a break and see how your business compares with industry averages from past censuses. At http://business.census.gov, click on "Industry Snapshots", then select your industry.

But if your company has not returned the 2007 Economic Census form, do it now. The rest of us are waiting for you.

CITA OKs Wool Coating & Laminated Knit/Woven Short Supply Requests

1) On January 16, 2008, the Chairman of CITA received a commercial availability request from Alston & Bird, LLP, on behalf of S. Rothschild & Co., Inc, and Herman Kay & Co., for certain wool blend coating fabrics. No manufacturer submitted an offer to supply.

The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities, effective February 21, 2008. Specification

• Fiber Content: 20 percent of more of man-made staple fibers and 36 to 80 percent of wool, cashmere or camelhair fiber (or any combination thereof), with a three percent fiber content allowance.
  
• Yarn Size: Various
  
• Fabric Weight: 17 to 23 ounces (482 to 652 grams)
  
• Colors: Various
  
• Finishing: Carbonized, fulled, dried, dyed, brushed, sheared, vaporized, rolled

2) On December 26, 2007, CITA received a commercial availability request from Columbia Sportswear Company (Columbia) for a composite fabric consisting of a woven face fabric and a knit backing fabric laminated together by means of a chemical adhesive. On January 7, 2008, Polartec, LLC (Polartec) submitted a response with an offer to supply. On January 16, 2008, Columbia submitted its rebuttal to Polartec's response. On February 6, 2008, CITA held a public meeting with representatives from Columbia, Polartec, and Burlington Worldwide, during which the interested entities presented evidence and arguments to CITA regarding Polartec's stated ability to provide the subject fabric in commercial quantities in a timely manner.

The subject fabric is added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

Recall of Fleece Hoody Sweatshirts Made in China

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on February 13, 2008, announced a voluntary recall, due to strangulation threat, of 5,000 Fleece Hoody Sweatshirts manufactured in China and sold at A&E Store, DD Discount, Forman Mills, The Marmaxx Groups, and Suit Mart stores nationwide from July 2007 through October 2007 for about $50. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Imports from West Bank and QIZs Rise to Almost $1.7 Billion in 2007

The QIZs allow Egypt and Jordan to export products to the United States duty-free if the products contain inputs from Israel. The purpose of this trade initiative has been to support the prosperity and stability in the Middle East by encouraging regional economic integration.

In order for a QIZ article to gain duty-free entry, QIZ factories must add at least 35 percent to the value of the article. This 35 percent minimum content figure can include value added in Israel, Egypt, or the United States.

HTS Number and Description	2007 Imports in Dollars
6110 - SWEATERS, PULLOVERS, SWEATSHIRTS, WAISTCOATS (VESTS) AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, KNITTED OR CROCHETED	450,029,737
6204 - WOMEN'S OR GIRLS' SUITS, ENSEMBLES, SUIT-TYPE JACKETS, DRESSES, SKIRTS, DIVIDED SKIRTS, TROUSERS, ETC. (NO SWIMWEAR), NOT KNITTED OR CROCHETED	262,540,983
6203 - MEN'S OR BOY'S SUITS, ENSEMBLES, SUIT-TYPE JACKETS, BLAZERS, TROUSERS, BIB AND BRACE OVERALLS, BREECHES, ETC. (NO SWIMWEAR), NOT KNITTED OR CROCHETED	236,165,366
6105 - MEN'S OR BOYS' SHIRTS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED	130,657,639
6104 - WOMEN'S OR GIRLS' SUITS, ENSEMBLES, SUIT-TYPE JACKETS, BLAZERS, DRESSES, SKIRTS, DIVIDED SKIRTS, TROUSERS, ETC. (NO SWIMWEAR), KNITTED OR CROCHETED	107,464,002
6106 - WOMEN'S OR GIRLS' BLOUSES AND SHIRTS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED	86,275,373
6109 - T-SHIRTS, SINGLETS, TANK TOPS AND SIMILAR GARMENTS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED	80,131,331
6103 - MEN'S OR BOYS' SUITS, ENSEMBLES, SUIT-TYPE JACKETS, BLAZERS, TROUSERS, BIB AND BRACE OVERALLS, BREECHES AND SHORTS (NO SWIMWEAR), KNITTED OR CROCHETED	62,175,100
6302 - BED LINEN, TABLE LINEN, TOILET LINEN AND KITCHEN LINEN	41,471,158
TOTAL OF ALL IMPORTS FOR WEST BANK, GAZA, AND QIZS	1,653,495,297

2007 Imports of Selected Knit Apparel

Product	Imported From	Dollar Value	% Change from 2006
6104632006 - WOMEN'S TROUSERS AND BREECHES, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, OF SYNTHETIC FIBERS, CONTAINING 5 PERCENT OR MORE BY WEIGHT OF ELASTOMERIC YARN OR RUBBER THREAD	No program claimed	$73,760,200	-15.80%
.	NAFTA	$10,069,345	-16.30%
.	W. Bank, Gaza & Qualifying Ind Zones	$9,914,920	-8.00%
.	DR-CAFTA	$3,329,627	3.00%
.	Singapore- U.S.	$3,173,398	39.70%
.	Andean Act (ATPA)	$2,642,650	-11.10%
.	AGOA (excluding GSP)	$1,280,855	-79.80%
.	CBTPA	$221,043	-83.50%
.	Jordan-U.S.	$82,832	N/A
.	Israel- U.S.	$58,397	-70.20%
.	Morocco- U.S.	$7,779	-90.50%
.	Australia- U.S.	$0	-100.00%
Subtotal - 6104632006	.	$104,541,046	-17.60%
6108229020 - WOMEN'S BRIEFS AND PANTIES, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, OF MAN-MADE FIBERS	No program claimed	$320,527,876	-10.80%
.	Israel- U.S.	$59,986,570	-0.80%
.	DR-CAFTA	$59,902,578	160.90%
.	NAFTA	$42,876,769	-14.60%
.	CBTPA	$22,041,693	-64.30%
.	Jordan-U.S.	$9,966,851	42.90%
.	W. Bank, Gaza & Qualifying Ind Zones	$7,438,561	-38.10%
.	Andean Act (ATPA)	$4,432,478	-27.30%
.	AGOA (excluding GSP)	$408,732	-64.40%
.	Morocco- U.S.	$369,550	-52.10%
.	Australia- U.S.	$10,010	3475.00%
.	Chile- U.S.	$290	-50.90%
.	Singapore- U.S.	$0	N/A
Subtotal - 6108229020	.	$527,961,958	-9.20%
6112310010 - MEN'S SWIMWEAR, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, OF SYNTHETIC FIBERS	No program claimed	$4,478,771	6.30%
.	NAFTA	$3,860,867	-21.50%
.	DR-CAFTA	$34,721	-66.70%
.	Andean Act (ATPA)	$30,311	-57.20%
.	Australia- U.S.	$14,658	21.10%
.	Chile- U.S.	$2,544	7.40%
.	CBTPA	$0	-100.00%
.	AGOA (excluding GSP)	$0	N/A
.	Israel- U.S.	$0	N/A
Subtotal - 6112310010	.	$8,421,872	-9.80%
6112410010 - WOMEN'S SWIMWEAR, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, OF SYNTHETIC FIBERS, CONTAINING BY WEIGHT 5 PERCENT OR MORE ELASTOMERIC YARN OR RUBBER THREAD	No program claimed	$312,816,856	20.70%
.	NAFTA	$128,068,181	-24.00%
.	DR-CAFTA	$16,186,449	2885.20%
.	CBTPA	$5,110,274	-78.40%
.	Andean Act (ATPA)	$2,847,987	0.40%
.	Israel- U.S.	$2,362,776	-40.70%
.	Morocco- U.S.	$654,354	346.60%
.	Australia- U.S.	$108,735	24.00%
.	Chile- U.S.	$1,159	N/A
.	AGOA (excluding GSP)	$0	N/A
Subtotal - 6112410010	.	$468,156,771	2.00%
6114301010 - MEN'S OR BOYS' OTHER GARMENTS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, OF MAN-MADE FIBERS: TOPS	No program claimed	$2,928,392	-27.20%
.	DR-CAFTA	$1,358,168	-13.40%
.	NAFTA	$855,644	102.70%
.	CBTPA	$615,886	-50.40%
.	W. Bank, Gaza & Qualifying Ind Zones	$233,752	126.90%
.	AGOA (excluding GSP)	$91,771	63.30%
.	Andean Act (ATPA)	$58,909	-78.30%
.	Israel- U.S.	$3,956	-83.50%
.	Australia- U.S.	$1,071	302.60%
.	Chile- U.S.	$0	N/A
Subtotal - 6114301010	.	$6,147,549	-20.30%
6114301020 - WOMEN'S OR GIRLS' OTHER GARMENTS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, OF MAN-MADE FIBERS: TOPS	No program claimed	$157,400,639	-15.20%
.	NAFTA	$16,881,663	-3.30%
.	W. Bank, Gaza & Qualifying Ind Zones	$4,068,948	-38.90%
.	Israel- U.S.	$3,411,061	-33.60%
.	AGOA (excluding GSP)	$2,383,889	-63.30%
.	DR-CAFTA	$2,319,147	2.60%
.	Andean Act (ATPA)	$776,800	-25.90%
.	Morocco- U.S.	$715,884	-15.70%
.	Singapore- U.S.	$378,585	228.10%
.	CBTPA	$365,088	-89.10%
.	Australia- U.S.	$99,811	44.30%
.	Chile- U.S.	$13,190	-28.30%
.	Jordan-U.S.	$360	N/A
Subtotal - 6114301020	.	$188,815,065	-17.60%
6114302010 - OTHER GARMENTS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, OF MAN-MADE FIBERS: BODYSUITS AND BODYSHIRTS, CONTAINING 5 PERCENT OR MORE OF ELASTOMERIC YARN OR RUBBER THREAD	No program claimed	$8,122,244	12.80%
.	NAFTA	$1,694,083	28.20%
.	Andean Act (ATPA)	$1,660,995	98.60%
.	AGOA (excluding GSP)	$846,932	595.80%
.	DR-CAFTA	$688,256	108.70%
.	CBTPA	$647,088	-4.90%
.	W. Bank, Gaza & Qualifying Ind Zones	$304,564	41.10%
.	Israel- U.S.	$910	-95.60%
.	Australia- U.S.	$0	N/A
Subtotal 6114302010	.	$13,965,072	30.20%

East Asian Suppliers Grow, But Still Lag West, in Fine Wool Apparel Shipments

Year-end 2007 U.S. import data released today show Indonesia, China, and Vietnam growing rapidly in exports of men's tailor clothing sector of fine wools (18.5 micron and finer fiber diameter) but still behind Italy and our NAFTA partners who dominate the import sector of this market.

Country	Imports	% Change from 2006
Total	$216,291,167	5.30%
Mexico	$59,437,697	3.50%
Canada	$51,104,755	19.40%
Italy	$50,501,417	-3.40%
Korea	$10,153,932	38.80%
Indonesia	$9,240,280	151.80%
China	$8,018,750	60.20%
Turkey	$7,295,905	-11.70%
Vietnam	$4,806,863	11.70%

U.S. Cashmere Sweater Imports Up from China; Other Countries Down

U.S. Import Data for 2007

Country	Dozens	% Change from 2006	% of Total
China	1,073,569	4.00%	91.3%
Italy	47,987	-35.10%	4.1%
Hong Kong	18,967	-77.50%	1.6%
United Kingdom	13,242	-12.30%	1.1%

The average price per dozen sweaters from imports from China was $413.01. For Italy is was $1,488.93. For Hong Kong $604.17. For United Kingdom $1,609.20.

NTA Boston Office Closed for Presidents' Day

Monday, February 18th is Presidents' Day.
It is a Federal and Massachusetts State Holiday.
The NTA Boston office will be closed for the day.

China Over Half of U.S. Wool Apparel Imports; NAFTA/CBI Partners Lose Share

Year-end 2007 textile import trade data for wool apparel released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce show further gains for the China and shift of sourcing away from our partners in North America and Central America and the Caribbean Basin.

Country	Imports(1)	% Change from 2006	% of Total Imports
WORLD	289.4	11.1%	100.0%
CHINA P	157.0	28.5%	54.3%
VIETNAM	16.2	54.8%	5.6%
ITALY	13.0	4.7%	4.5%
MEXICO	12.0	-4.0%	4.1%
CBI(2)	11.8	-9.2%	4.1%
INDIA	11.4	25.5%	3.9%
INDNSIA	9.0	17.2%	3.1%
PHIL R	9.0	16.4%	3.1%
CANADA	7.3	-22.1%	2.5%

Notes:
(1) Total U.S. Imports of wool apparel in measured in millions of square meter equivalents
(2) CBI = Nations of the Caribbean Basin Initiative region

China Takes Market Share from Western Hemisphere in MMF Bras

Year-end 2007 textile import trade data for brassieres released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce show further gains for the China and shift of sourcing away from our partners in North America and Central America and the Caribbean Basin.

Country	Imports(1)	% Change from 2006	% of Total Imports
WORLD	40.5	-0.7%	100.0%
CHINA P	18.5	17.9%	45.7%
CBI(2)	6.0	-13.7%	14.8%
INDNSIA	5.4	-5.7%	13.3%
THAILND	3.6	9.1%	8.9%
MEXICO	1.5	-21.2%	3.7%
SRI LKA	1.0	-11.2%	2.4%

Notes:
(1) Total U.S. Imports of man-made fiber brassieres as measured in millions of dozens
(2) CBI = Nations of the Caribbean Basin Initiative region

2007 Import Data Show Gains for China and Vietnam at Expense of Western Hemisphere Partners

Year-end 2007 textile import trade data released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce show further gains for the Communist nations of China and Vietnam and shift of sourcing away from our partners in North America and Central America and the Caribbean Basin.

Country	Imports(1)	% Change from 2006	% of Total Imports
WORLD	53.1	1.8%	100.0%
CHINA P	21.4	14.8%	40.2%
CBI(3)	3.7	-2.5%	7.0%
PAKISTN	3.2	-11.0%	6.0%
MEXICO	3.0	-11.2%	5.7%
INDIA	2.7	2.6%	5.1%
KOR REP	2.0	-8.7%	3.7%
CANADA	1.9	-21.6%	3.6%
INDNSIA	1.6	1.7%	3.1%
BNGLDSH	1.6	4.0%	2.9%
VIETNAM	1.5	31.3%	2.8%

Notes:
(1) Total U.S. Imports of all Multipiber Arrangement Categories as measured in billions of Square Meter Equivalents
(2) CBI = Nations of the Caribbean Basin Initiative region

Black Sea Defense & Aerospace, Sept. 24-26

Black Sea Defense & Aerospace 2008 International Exhibition and Conference dedicated to Aerospace, Defense, Homeland Security and Safety & Security. BSDA 2008 is the only exhibition in Romania Officialy Certified by the US Department of Commerce, organized with the support of the US Embassy in Bucharest.

Black Sea Defense & Aerospace
24-26 September 2008
Bucharest, Romania

Black Sea Aerospace Market Potential

The Black Sea region is the fastest growing, large economic areas outside of Asia. It consists of approximately 300 million people, and includes the countries of Romania (22 million), Bulgaria (8 million), Turkey (66 million) Russia (145 million), Ukraine (49 million) and & Georgia 5 million). All these countries are currently enjoying rapid economic growth and are expected to all have extremely rapidly expanding civil air transportation requirements.

In addition to the established national carriers, following trends in the USA and Western Europe, New low cost carries such as Blue Air (Romania), Hemus Air (Bulgaria) and Atlas Jet & Onur Air (Turkey), have been established and are creating new demand.

The host country of BSDA 2008 is Romania. Romania joined NATO in March, 2004 and is currently scheduled to become a full member of the European Union in 2007. Romania has a strong oil and gas industry, a large port on Black Sea and a booming tourist industry. It has a current GDP growth of over 5%, inflation is under 7% and unemployment is estimated at only 8%. The capital city of Romania, Bucharest ("Little Paris"), has a population of over 2 million and is rapidly growing into a modern European city.

In addition to civilian aerospace requirements, the Romanian Air Force modernization doctrine foresees the replacement of the MiG-21 Lancer fighter with a multi-role fighter in the near future. As part of the preliminary information process, the Romanian Air Force Headquarters has received offers from multiple aircraft corporations; Elbit Systems & Lockheed Martin Joint Venture Group - F-16 fighters; Boeing - F-18 fighters; Gripen International - JAS-39 Gripen. The market analysis process will take place between 2006-2007 and a decision regarding the future fighter of the Romanian Air Force will be taken at the end of this competition.

In addition, in November 2005, the USA and Romania signed an agreement for the US military to use a main base and airfield near the Black Sea port city of Constanta, plus three other facilities in the area, according to a U.S. statement. Under the bases agreement, the US military will have access to Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in south-east Romania, just inland from the Black Sea.

For details plese visit BSDA 2008 official website: www.bsda.ro.

Hotel Show -- Dubai, June 6th-8th

The Hotel Show is the most important dedicated trade fair for the hospitality industry in the Middle East. Now in its eighth year, The Hotel Show 2008 promises to provide an excellent opportunity for suppliers of hotel and hospitality products to meet decision makers in the region’s booming industry.

The Hotel Show 2007 showcased 757 exhibitors from 43 different countries and attracted more than 11,000 targeted trade visitors from the Arabian Gulf, including hotel and resort developers and owners, international management companies, purchasing and procurement managers, architects and specialist engineers, and interior designers. Nowhere else in the world can compare with the booming hospitality business in the UAE; in Dubai alone, 77 new hotels and 26,150 hotel rooms are expected to materialize by 2010 increasing the current room stock by 156 percent. The figure excludes over 4,000 furnished hotel apartment rooms, which are fast emerging in the Emirate.

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) will sponsor both a USA Pavilion and a catalog/sample show at The Hotel Show 2008. Exhibitors in the USA Pavilion are offered a “turn-key” package of services including space rental, booth construction, carpeting, lighting, signage, catalog entry, on-site assistance with interpretation and pre-show promotion. Participants in the catalog/sample show are offered a package of services including the collection of leads that will be sent to each company in a spreadsheet after the show, on-site promotion of samples and pre-show publicity.

COST: The cost for exhibiting in the USA Pavilion at The Hotel Show 2008 is $420 per square meter. Minimum booth size is 12 square meters. Participation in the catalog/sample show will cost $750 for 4-5 samples not to exceed 20 yards or four book samples, company literature and business cards. Shipment of samples and product literature to and from the show is the responsibility of the participant. We will offer consolidated shipping information upon request.

For additional information or to receive a participation kit please contact Mary Lynn Landgraf at (202) 482-7909 or Mary-Lynn_Landgraf@ita.doc.gov.

Report on UL Upholstered Furniture Fire Performance Research Program Workshop

The NTA report on this January 30th meeting is available in the Members-Only area of the NTA website

NTA Boston Office Will Be Closed Presidents' Day

Monday, February 18th is Presidents' Day. It is a Federal
and Massachusetts State Holiday. The NTA Boston office will
closed for the day.

Dept. of Labor Find Former Workers at Mount Vernon Mills and Westpoint Home Eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration in today's Federal Register published notice of issuacne of Certification Regarding Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance covering former workers of Mount Vernon Mills, Inc. and Westpoint Home, Inc.

• All workers of Mount Vernon Mills, Inc., Trion Denim Mill Division, Trion, Georgia (TA-W-59,362), including employees of Mount Vernon Mills, Inc., Trion Denim Mill Division, Trion, Georgia located in Verona, New Jersey (TA-W-59,362A) and Riedsville, North Carolina (TA-W-59,362B), who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after May 9, 2005, through May 31, 2008, are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of
  1974.
  
• All workers of WestPoint Home, Inc., formerly WestPoint Stevens, Inc., Sales and Marketing Office, New York, New York (TA-W-58,623L), including an employee reporting to this office but working in Seneca, South Carolina (TA-W-58,623GG), who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after January 12, 2005, through February 21, 2008, are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Also announced in today's Federal Register was the commencement of Investigations Regarding Certifications of Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance with regard to several companies, including:

• School Apparel, Inc., Star City, AR
  
• Ramtex Yarns and Fabrics, Ramseur, NC
  
• Dillan Chenille, Inc., Martinsville, VA
  
• Springs Global U.S. , Inc., Lancaster, SC
  
• Bollman Hat Company, Adamstown, Pa
  
• Jacquart Fabric Products, Ironwood, MI

Two More Duty Suspension Bills

The bills noted below have been filed for possible inclusion in a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. NTA members with interest in these bills should contact NTA by Feb. 22nd. At this time we have taken no position with regard to these two bills.

• H.R.4994, NTA is studying, Pneumatic inflatable mattresses not of cotton (Cubin [WY]).