6003839
hina Asked to Help Halt Diversions of Textiles
OURNAL OF COMMERCE (JC)
y: Wire Reports
Hition: Five Star
brd Count: 293
EMO:
August 23, 1990
Section: TRADE Page: 5A
ee related article: US IMPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM THAILAND SURGE TALKS ONTINUE ON TRADEPACT, on page 5A.
EXT: EIJING
The United States asked China to cooperate in halting allegedly llegal shipments of textiles designed to avoid quota restrictions, an
merican trade official said Wednesday.
Ronald Sorini, chief textile negotiator of the U.S. Trade epresentative's Office, said he and other American officials gave their hinese counterparts evidence of illegal diversions of clothing produced in hina.
"We have fairly firm evidence," he told reporters. "Customs has eized shipments. The question is: how big is the problem?"
dvised
Mr. Sorini is part of a team of trade and Customs officials who Beijing this week that sweaters, trousers and other items produced h China were being shipped illegally to the United States through Hong ong, Macao and even Taiwan.
The shipments were labeled as produced in these areas and counted nder their quotas instead of China's.
U.S. officials already have met with Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao uthorities on the issue.
Mr. Sorini said this alleged abuse was being used to justify a ongressional bid to impose tough global quotas on U.S. textile imports.
"Illegal shipments are now being used to justify global quotas,
aid.
" he
A bill calling for a near-freeze on U.S. imports of textiles and botwear has been passed by the Senate by a wide margin. It is expected to ain similar support in the House, possibly enough to override a likely
residential veto.
The bill could pose a serious threat to Asian exporters like China, hich sold $4 billion worth of textiles and clothing to the United States
ast year.
Mr.
ere
a
Sorini
said Chinese officials were aware that illegal shipments potential trade problem and that further talks on the issue were
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