2
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1983
U.S. EXERCISES TEXTILE CONVERSION RIGHT
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THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAD EXERCISED ITS RIGHT UNDER THE HK-US TEXTILE AGREEMENT TO CONVERT 13 CATEGORIES OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS +CALLED+ DURING 1983 INTO SPECIFIC-LIMIT CATEGORIES
IN 1984.
THE 13 CATEGORIES, AND THE 1984 RESTRAINT LIMITS, ARE:
1984 LIMIT
51 527 028 SQ. YD.
CATEGORY
DESCRIPTION
313
315
COTTON SHEETING
COTTON PRINTCLOTH
7 611 932 SQ, YD.
319
COTTON DUCK
336
COTTON DRESSES
352
COTTON UNDERWEAR
434
OTHER WOOL COATS (MEN AND BOYS)
WOOL SKIRTS
MAN-MADE-FIBRE SPUN NON-CELLULOSIC YARN
31 620 000 SQ. YD.
140 458 DOZ.
4 539 000 DOZ.
8 833 DOZ.
63 854 DOZ.
349 304 LBS.
432 480 DOZ. PAIRS
204 000 DOZ.
442
604
631
M.M.F. GLOVES
636
M.M.F. DRESSES
642
M.M.F. SKIRTS
131 762 DOZ.
644
M.M.F. SUITS (WOMEN,
25 500 DOZ.
GIRLS AND INFANTS)
647
M.M.F. TROUSERS, ETC. (MEN AND BOYS)
280 908 DOZ.
+THE LIMITS FOR 1984 ARE IN EVERY CASE GREATER THAN ACTUAL TRADE IN 1983. NEVERTHELESS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE U.S. HAS EXERCISED ITS RIGHT TO CONVERT, AND CONVERSION MEANS THAT THE CATEGORIES WILL BE SUBJECT TO QUOTA FOR THE REST OF THE AGREEMENT,
I.E. UNTIL DECEMBER 1987.
+THIS IS CLEARLY A SIGN OF A MORE RESTRICTIVE U.S. ATTITUDE TOWARDS TEXTILE IMPORTS AND, AS SUCH, IS OF CONSIDERABLE CONCERN TO HONG KONG,+ MR MACLEOD SAID.
/MR MACLEOD