Retailers Sue to Keep Market Open for Chinese Imports

By George Anderson

The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel, a group representing 200 domestic retailers, has filed a lawsuit seeking to ensure that imports from China will not
be excluded when quotas on clothing imports from individual countries are lifted on Jan. 1.

Domestic yarn spinners, fabric weavers and others involved in the U.S. apparel industry have asked the Bush administration to extend the cap on Chinese clothing imports for another
year.

Those opposed to lifting the quota, USA Today reports, are concerned that cheap Chinese imports will make it more difficult to sell items that use U.S.-made fabric but
are manufactured elsewhere.

They argue that this will cost more American jobs in an industry already decimated by competition from abroad. The number of textile and apparel industry jobs in the U.S. has
fallen from 860,000 in 2001 to 280,000 today.

The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel argues that restricting imports will cost Americans more money as they are forced to pay higher prices for goods that
could be obtained more cheaply from China.

Moderator’s Comment: Are the retailers represented by the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel correct?
Should the U.S. government end its quotas on apparel and textile imports from China?

George Anderson – Moderator

BrainTrust

Discussion Questions

Poll

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments