ECONOMICS REPORT - U.S. Moves to Limit Chinese Clothing Impo

ECONOMICS REPORT - U.S. Moves to Limit Chinese Clothing Imports
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Friday, May 27, 2005

I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

For the past ten years, a trade agreement permitted countries to limit imports of textiles and clothing. That agreement ended January first. Now the general rules of the World Trade Organization take its place.

 
 
The end of the quota¹ system has meant a big increase in exports of clothing and textile products from China. Some countries say Chinese exports have grown too fast. The United States has acted to place new import limits.

Such actions are the job of a group of government agencies called the Committee for the Implementation² of Textile Agreements. On May thirteenth, the committee announced import limits on three products made of cotton and man-made fibers³. Later, the group added four more to the list. Other cases remain.

The plan is to limit the growth of imports for the restricted products to seven and one-half percent through the end of this year. The limits take effect on the day that the committee officially asks for talks with the Chinese government. The first request came on Monday.

Terms for Chinese entry into the World Trade Organization permit any W.T.O member to take such action against China. This right to safeguard markets is to remain in effect through two thousand eight.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry⁴ expressed what it called "firm opposition⁵ and strong displeasure" with the American action. But last Friday the Xinhua news agency said China would move to restrict clothing exports. The report said the government would increase export taxes on more than seventy products, most by four hundred percent.

Last year, China had a trade surplus with the United States of one hundred sixty-two thousand million dollars.

The new import limits pleased American clothing makers⁶. The National Council of Textile Organizations says the measures will save thousands of jobs. The group says almost seventeen thousand jobs have been lost already.

Clothing sellers, however, are not pleased. The National Retail⁷ Federation⁸ says the new limits will mean higher prices at stores. The trade group also says that suppliers will find other low-cost foreign makers. And it argues that the trade measures will do nothing to save American jobs.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by Mario Ritter.  I'm Gwen Outen.

1 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

2 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

3 fibers   

光纤( fiber的名词复数 )； （织物的）质地； 纤维，纤维物质

参考例句：

• Thesolution of collagen-PVA was wet spined with the sodium sulfate as coagulant and collagen-PVA composite fibers were prepared. 在此基础上，以硫酸钠为凝固剂，对胶原-PVA共混溶液进行湿法纺丝，制备了胶原-PVA复合纤维。
• Sympathetic fibers are distributed to all regions of the heart. 交感神经纤维分布于心脏的所有部分。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

8 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。