EVANS ANNOUNCES RESULT OF CHINA TEXTILE

SAFEGUARD DECISION

“This decision demonstrates the Bush Administration’s commitment to our trade rules and America’s workers. I believe this will advance our future dealings with China, for no market operates fairly without open dialogue.

“The availability of this safeguard mechanism is an important tool for facilitating China's transition into the WTO. We look forward to beginning our consultations with the PRC, with the goal of achieving a mutually beneficial result on this issue.”

# # #

Summary

· Yesterday, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) voted to invoke safeguard relief on three textile products (knit fabric, dressing gowns and robes, and bras) imported to the U.S. from China following petitions filed by the U.S. textile industry.

· The petitions were filed by the industry under a special provision of China’s WTO accession agreement that allows the U.S. (and other WTO members) to impose temporary quotas on textile imports from China in the event those imports are found to cause “market disruption.”

· CITA is chaired by the US Commerce Department and includes, State, Treasury, Labor and USTR. Once the China textile safeguard is invoked, the U.S. is required to pursue a negotiated resolution of the matter with the Chinese government.

· For more information, please visit http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/Safeguard_intro.htm.

# # #