US apparel imports from China in categories embargoed since July have now virtually ground to halt, according to latest data. Shipments received in August were mainly down from July but remain above the monthly average for 2005. Imports of wool products are going up. Industry associations are continuing to react and pushing for further safeguard measures. Latest data from the US Department of Commerce reveal a virtual standstill of imports into the US of Chinese apparel in categories embargoed

Reports by industrialists show that in the second quarter of 2005 there was acceleration in the rate of industrial output and in the extent of sales to the domestic market. This was accompanied by a continued slow expansion of the number of workers in industry. As against this, a slowdown was registered in the rate of export shipments, accompanied by a slight slowdown in the rate of investments in fixed assets. Companies with manufacturing activities abroad report a slowdown in the rate of growt

Peter Mandelson must be a relieved man, after all!What after all the jetlag, and rounds of negotiations, not only with China but putting it across to dissenting members of the European community for unblocking Chinese textiles that jammed sea ports of member countries.Now, its matter of days that some 80 million Chinese jumpers, trousers and other textiles will reach retailers, some of whom had already sought alternate sources for replenishing vanishing stocks.China will definitely celebrate thi

In view of the growing cotton output worldwide, specially from India, Pakistan and China, besides plummeting prices, Australian cotton growers have started piling up stock for prices to go up.Already, the above countries have forecast above average to bumper cotton output. Leading cotton agency for India has announced that the country's output will go up from 18 million bales to 21 million bales, this year.Cotton markets in Pakistan have also been witnessing subdued prices even as fresh stocks h

As a second round of negotiations failed to reach a US/China comprehensive agreement on textile and apparel imports, the US government is continuing to consider and approve petitions to limit imports using the safeguard mechanism China agreed to as a condition or its admission to the World Trade Organization. On August 31, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) added two more product categories ?brassieres and man-made filament fabric ?to the list of some 30 product ca

The 4th China International Expo on Equipment Manufacture was open in Wulihe Stadium in Shenyang. Wu Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, sent a letter of congratulations to the Expo. Bai Lichen, Vice-chairman of 10th CPPCC National Committee, declared open of the Expo, Bo Xilai, Minister of Commerce, gave a speech to the Expo. Wu Yi said in her letter that to hold China International Expo on Equipment Manufacture was an important

During the past eight months, Vietnam? textile and garment export turnover grew by 0.7 percent against the same period last year to reach only US$3 billion, meeting 58.3 percent of the yearly plan, says the Vietnam Textile& Garment Corporation (VINATEX).According to economic experts, this year? textile and garment export turnover may hit only US$4.8 billion, compared to the set target of US$5.8 billion.The slight increases in export turnover that are far behind the set target have been attri

Officials from the 25 EU governments met Tuesday in Brussels to consider a deal with China to unblock some 77 million garments held up at European borders after Chinese textile imports broke through 2005 quota limits. They will meet again Wednesday to approve the deal but the final word to release the goods will not come until early next week. The EU's 25 member states need to back the deal before the clothing can go on sale in European stores. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Chinese C

The German textile and fashion industry welcomed Tuesday the EU-China agreement on blocked Chinese textile products in European ports, but expressed the concern that further problems might be created. Silvia Jungbauer, head of the International Trade and European Affairs Department of the Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry, said the agreement is a politically "balanced approach". "From a political perspective, it is a balanced approach. Since the European Commission, foll

US imports of men's and boy's underpants rebounded in the first half of 2005, free from quotas. Shipments from China unsurprisingly surged although the majority of the market rests in the hands of several Central American countries. Prices have also fallen in the first six months of the year. Data reproduced in our tables below from the US Department of Commerce show a rebound in imports into the US of men's and boy's underpants in HS categories: 6107110010/20. With the end of quotas, world sh