Textile industry opposes US import limits
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-11-26 09:45

The Chinese textile industry issued a statement Thursday, opposing a US government agency's acceptance of an industry appeal to limit imports of Chinese fabric products.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textile Products said in the statement that the US government has "trampled the principle of free trade" as well as the spirit of the Agreement on Textile and Clothing.

"The Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of the whole Chinese textile industry, expresses strong protest and firm opposition," it said.

The US Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements announced on November 17 that it has accepted an appeal from domestic industry on import limitations of 301 kinds of Chinese cotton yarn.

According to the statement, US industrial organizations have also appealed to extend existing import quotas on 222 kinds of Chinese fabric products for another year.

"The 301 products are still restricted by the US import quota and hold too little market share to disrupt the US market," the statement said. "The existing restriction on another 222 products has hurt the Chinese textile industry, the interests of US cotton growers, consumers, importers, fabric machinery makers and US investors in China as well."

The chamber of commerce urged the US government to stop activities that harm China-US ties and to abide by WTO rules. It said the restriction will not cause a boom in the US textile industry nor offer more jobs to US people.

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