USTR to stick on textile objectives during WTO talks
30 Jun '06
4 min read
In House Report 109-520 accompanying the bill, the following textile-specific language was attached:
Textiles- The Committee is aware of concerns about the World Trade Organization negotiations concerning textiles and apparel. The Committee believes such negotiations should be consistent with negotiating objectives contained in the Trade Act of 2002 and directs the USTR to report to the Committee within 60 days of enactment of this Act, regarding adherence to these objectives. Bill language is included regarding this matter.
The trade associations jointly stated, "We are pleased that the House, and the Appropriations Committee in particular, have taken a keen interest in the outcome of the textile portion of the ongoing WTO negotiations. We look forward to USTR's report on textiles 60 days after this legislation becomes law."
"The language in the bill and report is a clear indication that Congress will conduct thorough oversight of whether USTR is meeting its textile negotiating commitments included in the Trade Act of 2002.
It is vital that Congress continue to insist, as it has today, that full reciprocity must be achieved in any final WTO agreement, as reciprocity is the only way to guarantee the U.S. textile industry accrual of any benefits in the negotiations," the associations said.
The principal textile and apparel negotiating objectives handed to the U.S. government in the Trade Act of 2002 are as follows:
(16) TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS- The principal negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to trade in textiles and apparel articles are to obtain competitive opportunities for United States exports of textiles and apparel in foreign markets substantially equivalent to the competitive opportunities afforded foreign exports in United States markets and to achieve fairer and more open conditions of trade in textiles and apparel. (Emphasis added)
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