U.S. To Impose Quota On China Imports of Sock

The Bush administration decided on 22 Oct. to impose a quota on sock imports from China - the latest round of an increasingly bitter trade dispute with Beijing - showing a willingness to protect American workers.

The interagency Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, chaired by the Commerce Department, ruled that sock imports from China are disrupting the U.S. market and there is a risk of further disruption. The committee will seek talks with China to try to ease or avoid any disruption.

Once consultations are sought, a quota will be put in place to limit U.S. imports of socks from China to a 7.5 percent increase over current import levels, a far smaller increase than has occurred in recent years.

"The United States will make every effort to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with the Government of China to ease or avoid the disruption in the U.S. market within 90 days of such a request," the department said. If talks fail, the quota will remain in effect for a year.

Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt a Republican, joined the effort by the Hosiery Association and asked the Commerce Department to help shield the sock industry from Chinese imports in a letter signed by Aderholt and 22 other members of Congress from both parties.

In 2002, 69.6 million pairs of Chinese socks were imported. Last year, that number jumped 370 percent to 265 million pairs. Fort Payne, Ala., is the self-proclaimed Sock Capital of the World, employing 6,200 workers in 95 factories that produce 14 million pairs a week.

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