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Thailand:Encouraging signals for Thai Apparel exporters |
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2005-3-28
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Thailand, the largest exporter of Apparel goods to the US last year, could gain this year again at China''s expense.
Introduction of a new system to curb imports of cheap textile and apparel goods from China has given encouraging signals for Thai apparel exporters. They may find themselves on the receiving end of an unexpected windfall in near future.
Chinese apparel and textiles imports in the US have soared since abolishion of quota and concerns were raised from by some groups in US as the imports rose to 1,000% on certain products,
According to the US Department of Commerce, the monitoring system will offer officials and the public timely access to preliminary textile and apparel data from the US Customs and Border Protection Department, which would enable decision-makers to more quickly analyse the impact of imports on the local market.
Dej Pathanasethpong, managing director of Thong Thai Textile Co, said the decision came as no surprise to Thai exporters and American importers, who expected Washington to move on measures to stem the tide of Chinese goods.
''''It was widely predicted that the US would call for a consultation among American importers in May. Then in July, it will likely introduce import controls or restore a quota system for some sensitive items from China,'''' he said.
''''Due to the uncertain situation, the US may look to more stable producing countries instead and Thai exporters meet such a requirement.''''
He added that Thai apparel and fabric exports stood to enjoy a respite from tough competition in the form of Chinese goods in the US market until the end of 2008, when Washington will no longer have the right to impose safeguards limiting Chinese imports. US producers have petitioned the administration to introduce laws temporarily restricting cheap imports from China, which surged following the abolition of the global quota system.The US industry, which has seen heavy job losses partly due to competition from low-cost producers in developing countries, has asked the Bush administration to impose or reimpose quotas on imports from mainland China covering several product categories such as T-shirts and sportswear for up to one year.
Another big importer of clothing products, the European Union, announced earlier in March that it would consider emergency trade restrictions on textile products from China once the levels of such imports reach certain ceilings. Those ceilings have yet to be published |
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