National Textile Association

 

6 Beacon Street • Suite 1125 • Boston, Massachusetts  02108

(617) 542-8220 • info@nationaltextile.org • www.nationaltextile.org • (617) 542-2199 fax

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                            June 6, 2005

The Honorable Hal Stratton

Chairman

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Washington, DC 20207-0001

 

Re:      June 1 Open Dialogue on Chinese Imports

 

Dear Chairman Stratton:

 

We commend you and the Commission for taking the initiative to explore how consumer product safety can be maintained, given the enormous increase of products from China.  In the Commission’s preliminary information regarding the meeting, it mentions that China’s consumer product imports to the United States have increased 186% over the past eight years.  While this is high, it is overshadowed by the 102% (1st quarter 2004 vs same period, 2005) increase in Chinese imports of wearing apparel over just a three month period that occurred since January 1, 2005 when textile quotas were eliminated.

 

Those who testified to the Commission staff on June 1 made several important points that we hope the Commission will consider seriously.  Compliance with U.S. regulations, including voluntary standards, is essential if Chinese products are going to provide the same level of safety and compete fairly with products from other countries, including the U.S.  We thought several novel ideas were mentioned during the open meeting, including the demand that products comply with U.S. requirements before an export license is granted.

 

We are in complete agreement with the American Home Appliance Manufacturers that retailers should be given additional responsibilities for compliance with consumer products from China.  It is the retailer that is at the end of the supply chain and who actually delivers the end product to the consumer.  Many times, the retailer also serves as the importer of consumer products and, in this role, should be in a position to ensure throughout the supply chain that only complying products are allowed to enter commerce in the U.S.

 

In closing, congratulations on taking the initial steps to ensure that American consumers can enjoy the high level of safety from the huge amount of Chinese products in our marketplace.  With the enormous increase in the amount of Chinese-made textile and apparel products being imported into the U.S., we encourage the Commission to step-up its compliance activities until China establishes a solid record of consistently meeting the rules under the Flammability Fabrics Act.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Karl Spilhaus

President

 

Copy:

Commissioner Nancy Nord

Commissioner Thomas Moore

Mr. Joseph P. Mohorovic