Us Reintroduced Two Bills Affecting Textile Import Pattern

Recently, members of the US Congress reintroduced the Asia South Pacific Trade Preferences act and the textiles law enforcement and Safety Act.

In July 28th, US Senator Feinstein (Dianne Feinstein) again proposed the Asia South Pacific Trade Preferences act to provide tariff free treatment for imported textiles and clothing from 13 least developed countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kampuchea, Kiribati, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, the American Samoa islands, the Solomon islands, East Timor, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

If the bill is passed, the United States will provide tariff free treatment to clothing and other products in the above countries from January 1, 2012. These treatments are similar to those received by the beneficiary countries under the African Development and Opportunity Act.

According to the insiders, if the bill is passed into a formal law, the trade preferences scheme will reduce the cost of textiles and clothing manufacturers in Bangladesh, Kampuchea and Laos, enhance the competitiveness of products and further affect China.

Compared with Bangladesh, Kampuchea, Vietnam and Indonesia, the number and value of garments exported to the United States have dropped in recent years, but it is still the largest clothing supplier in the United States. The number and value of these garments account for 35.7% and 33.7% of the US import market respectively.

The tariff free treatment in the bill will stimulate American demand for a range of products in Bangladesh and Kampuchea, including cotton and synthetic fiber trousers, underwear, pajamas, shirts and women's blouses.

The US textile industry has been opposed to giving preferential treatment to Bangladesh or Kampuchea.

National Council of Textile Organizations warned that preferential tariff treatment would lead to the loss of large numbers of jobs in the least developed and developing countries such as sub Saharan Africa and the Western Hemisphere, and seriously damage the textile industry in the United States.

On the other hand, congressman Kissel (Larry Kissell) and 16 members renewed their views in August 1st.

Johnson, chairman of the National Textile Association (Cass), said she would consult with Senator Hagen (Kay Hagan) during the summer recess in parliament to propose similar legislation in the Senate.

The National Textile Association said its bill would expand the power of the customs border protection agency to crack down on importers' fraudulent practices, including underestimating the value of goods, illegally claiming preferential tariff treatment, illegally pferring goods and counterfeiting American producers.

It is understood that the bill was put forward last year, and has caused controversy in the clothing trade industry of the United States. Some articles are even more redundant and its legitimacy is also questioned.