US-China deal to smooth textile trade
After more than a year of uncertainty, during which time US textile groups have filed a barrage of safeguard petitions seeking curbs on Chinese imports of textiles and clothing, the newly-negotiated deal signed by the US and China last week will bring some much-needed stability to bilateral trade. From 1 January 2006 to the end of 2008, new limits have been imposed on US imports of Chinese textile and apparel products in all or parts of 34 categories.