Sino-US textile talks stop at red light
By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-02 05:36

Song Hong, an analyst with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the breakdown indicated that the two sides still stood far apart in some substantial issues.

Meanwhile, the US Government announced yesterday that it was re-imposing quotas on two more categories of Chinese clothing and textile imports, Xinhua reported.

It said that the US would limit imports of fabric made with synthetic filament threads and also bras and other body-supporting undergarments.

The US Government also announced it was extending until October 1 a deadline for making decisions in four other cases covering sweaters, dressing gowns, knit fabric and wool trousers.

"Today's announcement demonstrates this administration's commitment to levelling the playing field for US industries by enforcing our trade agreements," said Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary Jim Leonard. August 31 is the deadline for the US Government to decide on whether to impose new safeguard measures on additional textile imports from China.

"The US restrictions, like a double-edged sword, hurt the interests of not only Chinese manufacturers but also US customers," said Zhou Shijian from the China Association of International Trade.

Before the US-China talks, consultations between China and the European Union started on August 25 also failed to produce a mutually accepted amendment to the agreement signed by trade chiefs of both sides in Shanghai.

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