WASHINGTON (AP) - When U.S. and Chinese textile negotiators sit down Tuesday, the Bush administration's effort to help beleaguered American manufacturers could end up costing consumers some of the sweet deals they have been enjoying on clothing prices. Some experts say America's clothing bill could rise by $6 billion US or more annually if domestic producers get what they want - a comprehensive deal limiting a broad array of Chinese imports. Gary Hufbauer, a top trade expert at the Institute f

The government is seriously mulling lease of 19 state-owned textile mills that have taken Tk 5 billion credit from bank, to private parties to operate them on no-profit no-loss basis. Senior official of the jute and textile ministry informed that ministry is processing tenders to lease out. The ministry has already received some proposals.Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) intends to utilize yarns produced by these mills, since the government has decided to opera

After surging with the end of quotas, US textile imports from China stabilized in the last three months. Shipments even fell in a large number of categories, mainly due to seasonal factors and a continued decline in US textile consumption. US textile imports from China are showing no signs of further surging. After jumping in a large number of categories in the first post-quota months, shipments were stabilized at their current level. Entries even fell in July for certain categories as reflect

The China Leather Association stated that nine Chinese leather shoe producers have been selected by the European Union (EU) for a model survey for an anti-dumping charge. A senior official of the association, Su Chaoying informed that the survey is only a preliminary one.The association and the chamber of commerce are consulting with enterprises preparing to give feedback to the EU, he added. The sampling includes five companies in Guangdong Province, two in Fujian Province, one in Zhejiang Prov

U.S. textile executives complained China doesn't play by the trade rules and that their own government doesn't help."If you wait for the government to support and protect you, you're in trouble," James Morelli, vice president of American Fibers & Yarns Co. of Chapel Hill, N.C., told a panel discussion Friday at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market show.Trade negotiators are pressuring China's central government, but the problem is in China's provinces, where "it's the governor or his brother-i

The Bush administration said yesterday that it would discuss a comprehensive agreement to limit imports of clothing and fabric from China, a potential reprieve for U.S. manufacturers and a step to smooth trade relations with China.U.S. imports of some Chinese products -- such as cotton socks, shirts and pants -- have increased in volume by more than 1000 percent since Jan. 1, when a global system of quotas expired.U.S. producers say the flood of Chinese imports is costing jobs and ruining compan

The Bush administration, struggling to deal with America's surging trade deficit with China, announced Thursday it would begin negotiations aimed at broad restrictions on imports of Chinese clothing and textiles. Critics said such new limits could cost American consumers billions of dollars in higher clothing costs. Supporters said a comprehensive deal imposing limits on Chinese imports was needed to protect a U.S. textile and apparel industry that has been left reeling with the expiration of

DHAKA, Aug 11 Asia Pulse - Export growth of woven garments drastically declined following the abolition of the quota system from the middle of the just-past fiscal year, creating skepticism about the viability of Bangladesh's apparel sector in the post-MFA era. The growth of woven garment exports has dwindled in four months out of five of the current year till May since the quota umbrella was removed from the world market on January 1 this year, according to the latest statistics from the Expo

China has posted its second-biggest trade surplus in July. This proves massive competitiveness of Chinese exports sector and government policies to control investment, which are dampening imports, said economists.The $10.4 billion surplus in July took the cumulative total for the first seven months up $50 billion, dwarfing the surplus of $32 billion, last year.China's trade relations with the United States and the European Union have strained since the decades-old system of quotas on developing

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson stated he would hold meeting with Chinese counterpart Bo Xilai, which is slated to begin this week after violation of quota on Chinese pullovers and trousers.However, Mandelson was in constant touch with Bo-Xilai, and no decision on what action to take would be decided upon, until early next month. He also added that the final decisions, including reduction of quotas in the future will not be taken until early September and will be resolved only through an a