Quota-Free Imports FromChina Reach Record Levels
According to a report released recently by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. imports of quota-free Chinese apparel and home furnishing products have reached record levels. Apparel imports from China comprised 70 percent of the 2004 U.S. apparel market, and imports of finished textile products from China represented 61 percent of that market. Globally, China exported 513 million square meters, or 55 percent of quota-free apparel. U.S. imports from other countries declined by 91 million square meters in these categories.Europe also is feeling the effects of a quota-free market, according to Cass Johnson, president of U.S.-based National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO). He said European imports of Chinese apparel were two to four times higher in January 2005 than previously.Chinese finished product prices in these quota-free areas have fallen sharply, with the average price going from $3.79 per square meter in 2001 to $1.21 per square meter in 2004 — a 68-percent decrease overall, further broken down to a drop of 55 percent for apparel and 83 percent for finished textile products, according to the DOC.A recent NCTO analysis shows Chinese apparel prices averaged 58 percent below those from other countries in the global market including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh; and 76 percent below U.S. prices.
May/June 2005