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CCMI Press Coverage in Japan
BOSTON, October 11, 2006 -- SENKEN SHINBUN, the most influential daily textile news paper in Japan, recently covered the activities of CCMI and NTA. For the Japanese text CLICK HERE. A rough English translation follows:
There are currently 16 members in Cashmere Council, most of whom are Italian companies including Loro Piana and Zegna Barrufa. From Japan, Toyoboshi and Fukaki are the members. According to the President of CCMI, Mr. Spilhaus, CCMI issues 20-30 warnings a year, mainly in USA and Europe. The number of cases is the largest in USA, and Italy and Germany follow, while in Japan it is relatively small (several in the last 10 years) according to CCMI Japan Representative Mr. Kuniyasu Shimizu. CCMI opened Japan representative in July 2006, considering the fact that Japanese consumption of luxury fibers (Cashmere Superfine Wool etc) per capita is the highest in the world. CCMI will expand its activities aiming for to promoting fair trading as well as protecting consumer in Japan.
CCMI's Superfine Wool Council, consists of 17 members (almost all Italians), has started activities to prevent abuse of Internationally established "Super X" standard. CCMI has extended its activities by creating Superfine Wool Council, and also intends to extend its activities geographically from USA, Europe and Japan to major cashmere producing country China.
The president of NTA (National Textile Association), Mr. Karl Spilhaus had a press conference is Osaka on 2 October, and emphasized that U.S. Textile industry was severely damaged (including the loss of tens of thousands employment) after the elimination of import quota. He announced that NTA is demanding China and India a reduction of import duty, fare to the developing countries, and that NTA is also discussion on the protection of Intellectual Property Right Since the elimination of import quota in January 2005, import of textile goods from China to USA has drastically increased, and USA implements Safe Guard on 11 items including Cotton Trousers. In spite of the Safe Guard, the import is increasing, and the loss of employment will accumulate to hundreds thousand from the time before the elimination of quota.
A new Multinational Trade Agreement is desired, but Doha round has failed. NTA is now focused on demanding countries like China and India the reduction of their import duties.
While the import of textile products is increasing from Chine, the is a trend that export of American, European and Japanese luxury goods to China is increasing. Mr. Spilhaus stressed that China (et al) should reduce their import tariff as the developed countries have done in the past. "We and they should stand on the fair ground", Mr. Spiuhaus said. NTA's proposal is supported by 30 countries including Turkey Mexico and some African countries. NTA also advocate the protection of intellectual property right in China, and will demand protection of the American and European strength from "theft".
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NTA, formed in 1854, is the oldest industrial trade association in America. Its 153 members weave and knit fabric in the U.S.; manufacture yarns in the U.S. for the formation of fabrics; and dye, print, and otherwise finish fabrics in the U.S. For more information about NTA, see our website www.nationaltextile.org.
