A federal judge temporarily barred the United States on December 30 from imposing some curbs on imports of textiles and clothing from China. Senior Judge Richard W. Goldberg of the United States Court of International Trade in New York granted a preliminary injunction sought by the Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel, which represents Liz Claiborne and other domestic clothing retailers. His ruling will stand pending further court action. United States quotas on the textile trade, imposed about 40 years ago, were set to expire on January 1 ending a system that limited trade in 2,400 items, including cotton shirts and denim. The dispute pits American textile makers, who fear more competition from China, against retailers, who favour lifting the quotas to give them access to cheaper fabrics.
展开▼
