Friday, August 17, 2007


THE HOSIERY ASSOCIATION PROGRAMS / EVENTS

THA Partners with Southern Women’s Show—September 20-23 - The Hosiery Association is working with The Southern Women’s Show’s lifestyle event in Charlotte, NC. This is a tremendous opportunity for the industry to gain exposure among the approximately 30,000 consumers and we encourage our members to participate through several mediums. THA’s President and CEO Sally Kay will be conducting an interactive Footloose Fashions Legwear Workshop that focuses on fall fashions and the technical advancements in legwear. There will be an opportunity for product placement at the Dress For Success Benefit and Fashion Show, and a central location for a “Rest Your Feet and Legs” lounge where guests can sit and relax while learning more about foot and legwear products. Product Donations are needed. If you/your company can provide product and/or assist with the “Rest Your Feet and Legs” Lounge, contact Sally Kay at 704.365.0913, ext. 212 or email at sally.kay@hosieryassociation.com.

THA Executive Committee Meeting will be held on Friday, September 28 at THA headquarters in Charlotte, NC.

THA Board of Directors Meeting/Strategic Planning Session will be held Wednesday, October 17 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC in conjunction with THA’s Golf Tournament (see below).

THA’s 3rd Annual Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, October 18 at the Grandover Resort Golf Course in Greensboro, NC. Individuals and teams may now register using the Registration Form found on THA’s website (please click here) If you would like to become a sponsor of this event, please complete the form found on THA’s website. Current sponsors are: GROZ-BECKERT USA (Event Sponsor), WELLMAN INC. (Two Hole Sponsor), FRONTIER SPINNING MILLS (Longest Drive Skill Hole), FIBER & YARN PRODUCTS INC. (Hole Sponsor).


SAVE THE DATE….THA’s 103rd Annual Convention – Program plans are underway to hold next year’s Annual Convention at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia April 17-20, 2008. Please mark your calendars tentatively until these plans are finalized.

Step into THA’s NEW Advertising Program! For a fraction of traditional advertising costs, companies can now receive exposure in Hosiery Insider and Hosiery News and the THA website for One Package Price!


Why Advertise with Us?

  • Reach over 11,000 global hosiery industry colleagues and retailers
  • Custom design exclusive feature that highlights your particular product and/or service to have your product
  • Solid Return on Investment
  • Your ad will stand out and be remembered with our uncluttered format!

The Hosiery Association’s diverse media properties provide direct, exclusive access to decision-making senior executives with spending authority and industry influence.

For complete package pricing details, contact Jeanna Sheldon at 704.365.0913, ext. 203 or email at advertising@hosieryassociation.com.

 

Hosiery News-More Frequent, More Flexible. We are receiving positive feedback on the new format and frequency of Hosiery News. This environmentally friendly version affords readers more flexibility in obtaining the information they need on a timelier basis and advertisers can quantify the broader exposure they receive through monthly reports. As we work to verify our distribution database is accurate, please contact Vicki Camp (email: vicki.camp@hosieryassociation.com) to ensure that you, your company representatives and customers are receiving each of these communications tools.

Charlotte Rescue Mission is requesting donations of dress socks and casual socks to help their 500+ yearly residents. That’s 1000 bare feet that are depending on the generosity of others. If your company would like to lend a hand to help their feet, please contact Andria Tindall at 704-334-4635 ext 214 or email her at andriat@charlotterescuemission.org and indicate that you are THA member. Donors who provide generously will be credited in the Charlotte Rescue Mission’s newsletter, which is seen by over 35,000 people. For more information, please visit their web site, www.charlotterescuemission.org.

The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. THA is currently working with the North Carolina affiliate to provide hosiery donations (pantyhose, tights, trouser socks, knee-highs) so that these women are able to accessorize themselves completely for the interview process. Companies interested in sending donations should contact Kerry O’Connor at charlotte@dressforsuccess.org and indicate that you are a THA member. Please visit their website at www.dressforsuccess.org.

THA MEMBER SERVICES ---------

2007-2008 THA Membership Dues & Member-Only Access to THA’s Website: With the 2007-2008 THA membership year upon us, and in order to ensure that THA is continually adding value to its membership services, the Member-Only section of the website has updated its log-in information Those companies that have already submitted their dues should have been notified of the new log-in information. If your company has not yet paid its dues, you will no longer have access to the information contained on this section of the website. From this point on, respective companies will be issued the updated log-in information upon receipt of their dues. Renewal notices for the 2007-2008 THA Membership Year were mailed in June. Please submit your membership dues to THA in a timely fashion, please.

New Service to THA Members – Products Law Advisory Service: The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and THA announce a new service for their respective memberships – a service focused on advising members about California’s Proposition 65 and other relevant product law issues. Visit THA’s Member Section of the website at http://www.hosieryassociation.com/Members/home.asp and log in. Additionally, members can receive news bulletins from Farella Braun concerning restricted substances updates. Please see information below on August 23 free webinar for all THA members on this subject.

*** New Service to THA Members- WRAP Certification Information Sessions: THA is working with Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production ® WRAP to soon offer educational sessions in NC and in AL. The objective of the Apparel Certification Program is to independently monitor and certify compliance with standards, ensuring that a given factory produces sewn goods under lawful, humane, and ethical conditions. WRAP monitors the factory for compliance with detailed practices and procedures implied by adherence to these standards. Please note that there is no fee for members to attend these sessions. More detailed information on dates and locations forthcoming. In the meantime, contact Sally Kay at (704)365-013, ext. 212 or email sally.kay@hosieryassociation.com with any questions you might have.

New Service to THA Members--Legwear: What Were They Thinking? Get Inside the Minds of Consumers
As the legwear business continues to transform it is important to maintain a pulse on the wants and needs of the evolving consumer. How many times a year do they shop for your products? Do they prefer a specific brand? What influences them to buy and why? The Hosiery Association (THA) is pleased to offer this exclusive new member only service that we believe is an invaluable resource to companies and their business partners. The study (inclusive of socks, pantyhose/stockings, tights/footless tights, leggings and toe covers) is based on the responses of 60,000 consumers. The summary and supporting data is available for a nominal fee. Opportunity is knocking…improve your products, marketing techniques and connect with the consumer. Join the other member companies who have this information…act now and order your copy today! For further details please contact THA at 704.365.0913 or email at info@hosieryassociation.com.

***New Member Service—Discount on Microsoft Dynamics™ AX Software License —THA Member, Sunrise Technologies, is an experienced supply chain consulting organization and a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in the Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP solution for textile, apparel and footwear. Microsoft Dynamics AX includes integrated functionality across finance, supply chain management, e-commerce, customer relationship management, and human resource management. Sunrise will lead your organization through design, development, and implementation of the entire solution. For more information, (click here)

Chapter News ---------------------

AL Chapter Golf Tournament: AL Chapter’s Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, October 4 at Terrapin Hills in Fort Payne, AL. Additional information on this event and the Wednesday night Dinner/Calcutta is now available on THA’s website at http://www.hosieryassociation.com/NonMembers/home.htm.

PRODUCT LIABILITY
IS SUICIDAL….LITERALLY.

TODAY IS FINAL DAY TO REGISTER for FREE Product Liability Webinar. CHA Chapter Supplier Luncheon & Industry wide program: While toy manufacturers are currently under the media’s microscope, who knows which manufacturing segment could be targeted next. The chemical processes in apparel items are necessary; however, many of those chemicals either are or could be added to retail customers’ restrictive substances lists (RSLs). Regardless of where you manufacture and/or obtain your products, you need to be cognizant of the latest information concerning product liability. The media has heightened consumers’ sensitivity to this issue, and the retailing industry is thus implementing more rigorous guidelines for supplier compliance. The August 23 luncheon at the Hosiery Technology Center in Hickory, NC will feature Ruth Ann Castro and Chris Locke from Farella Braun + Martel LLP who will be discussing California Proposition 65: Strategies for Compliance and Liability Protection. Participants unable to attend the luncheon in Hickory may join in as a webinar at the following complimentary webinar sites: High Point Campus of Randolph Community College and Alabama’s Hosiery Technology Center in Fort Payne, AL. Or you can choose to participate in your own office and/or company’s conference room if you have a PC, Internet access and a telephone (limited number of lines for this and available on a first-come, first served basis). To register, complete form found on THA’s website at www.hosieryassociation.com.

 

A subsidiary of Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. has established Napapijri Japan Co. Ltd., a majority-owned joint venture with Tokyo-based Mitsui & Co. Ltd., to market and distribute the Napapijri® brand of premium sportswear. VF Corp. has appointed Masato Fujino president of the venture, which is headquartered in Tokyo. The new company will grow with the opening of additional retail stores as well as expanded distribution in department and specialty stores.

Retailers Report Sluggish July Sales: The back-to-school shopping season had a disappointing start in July as consumers worried by a softening housing market and other financial pressures stayed away from stores and malls. The weakest performers were mall-based apparel chains, particularly teen merchants like Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. and Wet Seal Inc. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted a slim gain but warned that its increased discounting are hurting profit margins. Analysts also noted that an increasing number of schools are starting classes later, delaying back-to-school purchasing. Teens usually wait to do the bulk of their shopping until after school starts because they want to see what their friends are wearing. Target Corp.'s same-store sales rose 6.1 percent, above the 5.9 percent forecast. Costco reported a 7 percent increase in same-store sales, exceeding the 5.5 percent estimate, while J.C. Penney posted a robust 10.8 percent gain in its department store business, above the 9.8 percent forecast. Nordstrom Inc. reported that same-store sales rose 9.4 percent as the well-heeled customer continues to splurge. Macy's Inc. had a 1.4 percent decline in same-store sales for the month, in line with the 1.5 percent analysts expected. Limited posted a 3 percent same-store sales drop, worse than the 0.5 percent forecast. Gap Inc. fell short of expectations, posting a 7.0 percent decline in same-store sales. Analysts had forecast 4.9 percent drop. AnnTaylor Corp. posted a 5 percent decline in same-store sales, worse than the 3.4 percent expected. Teen retailers were hit hard, though many store executives blamed the tax holiday shifts in Texas and Florida as a major factor. Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s same-store sales fell 4 percent, worse than the 0.7 percent expected. American Eagle Outfitters Inc. announced that same-store sales fell 6 percent; analysts expected a 2.9 percent increase. Hot Topic had a 7.4 percent decline in same-store sales, worse than the 7.1 percent estimate. Wet Seal suffered a 7.2 percent decline, worse than the 5.0 percent projection, while Pacific Sunwear had a 4.6 percent slide; analysts anticipated a 3.2 percent gain. Bebe Stores Inc. posted a 6.3 percent decline, steeper than the 4.6 percent forecast

Tax-Free Hosiery and Other Items – Some states are having their tax-free weekend shopping this weekend. Make sure to buy all your hosiery needs and take advantage of the tax-free weekend if you reside in Texas or Connecticut.

August 17-19 – Texas
August 19-25 – Connecticut
November 24 - December 2 – Washington, DC

Born and Worn in the USA: Check Out The Video That Will Be Featured at MAGIC’s Runway Central: A group of US-based fiber, yarn, fabric, hosiery and apparel manufacturers will join together for the third consecutive time at MAGIC, the fashion and apparel trade show held twice a year in Las Vegas, to present a complete domestic supply chain to both domestic and international buyers. The upcoming MAGIC Marketplace — consisting of four individual markets including MAGIC for men’s apparel; WWDMAGIC for women’s apparel, organized in conjunction with Women’s Wear Daily; MAGICKids for children’s apparel; and Sourcing at MAGIC for sourcing and supply-chain solutions — will take place August 27-30 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Las Vegas Hilton. The Made In USA exhibit, consisting of displays by 24 US companies, will be located in Sourcing at MAGIC in South Hall, with 13 fiber, yarn and fabric suppliers in Booth FA23505; and 11 hosiery and apparel makers in Booth OD22802. Sponsors of Made In USA include: The Hosiery Association (THA), Charlotte; HTC; National Associations for the Sewn Products Industry (SEAMS), Columbia; National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), Washington, D.C., and Gastonia, N.C.; North Carolina Department of Commerce, Raleigh; Textile Technology Center, Belmont, N.C.; and Textile/Clothing Technology Corp. ([TC]2, Cary, N.C.

Click here to view the video http://www.legsource.com/magicaug07/articles-news-release.htm

ASAPSHOW – Why Exhibit at ASAP? ASAP gives the apparel companies the best chance to meet top US retailers and brands who are seeking alternative sourcing options. ASAP’s reputation in the apparel industry boasts the highest number of attendees, and a diverse number of countries. ASAP receives the most endorsements from overseas governments and works directly with them to organize their respective country pavilions that represent the “Best of…” each country and buyers know this. The next show will take place on August 26-29 at the Venetian Grand Ball Room in Las Vegas, NV. For additional information, go to www.asapshow.com or email info@asapshow.com.

ECO Fashion Show – Join the Global ECO Show and ASAP Show for an ECO Fashion Show beginning at 6:00 p.m. on August 26 in the Venetian Grand Ballroom. See fashion designs from: People’s Hemp, Cape Fear, True Echo, Sharbie, the students of the International Academy of Design & Technology and much more.

China International Hosiery Purchasing Exposition 2008
& China Hosiery Forum 2008
Event will be held March 3-5, 2008 at the Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center in Shanghai, China. For additional information, contact Kim Yang at k.yang@gehuaexpo.com or visit their website at www.chpe.com.cn.


 

Toy Recalls Spur Action by CPSC, Lawmakers
Federal regulators and lawmakers are taking action in response to a series of toy recalls in recent weeks that has been based on the presence of lead-containing paint. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is reportedly moving to ban lead in toys and other products while a leading senator is calling for more inspections, tighter standards and higher penalties. The issue is getting attention elsewhere as well. According to an AFP article, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it will be a subject of conversation when he meets with President Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon at the annual summit of NAFTA heads of state Aug. 20-21. Separately, the CPSC will host the second biennial Sino-U.S. Consumer Product Safety Summit in Washington, D.C., Sept. 11. According to a CPSC announcement, the summit will “discuss the steps that manufacturers, retailers and importers can take to increase the rate of compliance of products that they design, purchase, and sell and explain U.S. government expectations for importers and retailers.”

NAFTA Countries Seek Ways to Boost Trade, Improve Competitiveness
The trade ministers of NAFTA partners the U.S., Canada and Mexico met in Vancouver Aug. 13-14 for the annual meeting of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission. According to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the ministers discussed ways to keep NAFTA strong, modern and flexible in order to help the region maintain its competitiveness in an increasingly complex, fast-paced and connected global marketplace. These issues will also be addressed at next week’s meeting of NAFTA heads of state in Quebec. Regarding chemicals, the ministers agreed to review recommendations on how to facilitate trade in this sector, including customs and rules-of-origin requirements, and how to make it more competitive and cost-effective in the global context. To promote safety and environmentally friendly standards, ministers also agreed to explore work that will assist current efforts toward common standards and requirements for the labeling and transportation of hazardous chemicals. An analysis will be conducted of the free trade agreements that each country has negotiated subsequent to NAFTA, beginning with those in the western hemisphere. This work will focus on identifying specific, meaningful differences between these agreements, especially those related to trade facilitation and transparency. The Working Group on Rules of Origin has been asked to continue its work on further liberalization of the requirements for obtaining NAFTA duty-free treatment. Two rounds of rules of origin changes have already been implemented, affecting approximately $35 billion in annual trilateral trade. A third set of changes affecting an estimated $100 billion in trade is scheduled to be implemented in 2008. The ministers will also instruct the Working Group on Rules of Origin to further study appropriate opportunities for cumulation of origin, which they called “an important mechanism for creating new business opportunities.”

U.S. Advances WTO Case Alleging Deficiencies in China’s IPR Laws
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Aug. 13 that it has requested the establishment of a dispute settlement panel in its WTO case alleging deficiencies in China’s legal regime for protecting and enforcing copyrights and trademarks on a wide range of products. The USTR states that in pursuing this action it is seeking to eliminate significant structural deficiencies that give pirates and counterfeiters in China a safe harbor to avoid criminal liability. It is also seeking to improve enforcement procedures at China’s border and to give copyright owners more tools to prevent the production of unauthorized copies in China. The U.S. requested consultations with China on these issues in April and the two sides held talks in early June, the USTR said, but China has not taken any steps to address U.S. concerns during this period. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body will consider the panel request at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 31.

USTR Seeks Petitions for 2007 Review of Andean Trade Preference Act
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that Sept. 17 is the deadline for submitting petitions for the 2007 annual review of the Andean Trade Preference Act. Petitions may seek to withdraw or suspend the designation of a country as a beneficiary under the ATPA or the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act or to withdraw, suspend or limit the application of preferential treatment to any article of any ATPA or ATPDEA beneficiary country.

More Mali Textile Articles Approved for AGOA Duty-Free Treatment. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has issued a directive listing additional folklore articles that are eligible for duty-free treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act if produced in and exported from Mali. These products must be accompanied by an AGOA export visa for grouping 9 (handmade, hand-loomed or folklore articles) issued by the government of Mali to qualify for such treatment. CITA has therefore directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection, effective Aug. 27, to allow the duty-free entry of such products of Mali under HTSUS 9819.11.27 when accompanied by an appropriate export visa.

Action Promised Against Honduran Sock Imports: Congressman Aderholt Told Proceedings to Initiate Sock Safeguard Beginning: According to a press release issued by Congressman Aderholt’s office last week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez personally called Congressman Robert Aderholt informing him that the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) will immediately begin proceedings to implement a sock safeguard to protect the American sock industry against increasing sock imports from Honduras. This proceeding is the first step necessary to fully implement the sock safeguard that Congressman Aderholt has been pursuing on behalf of the domestic sock industry. According to recently revised U.S. Census data on domestic sock production, production dropped by 19.6% in 2006. In the first quarter of 2007, domestic sock production dropped by another 13.5%. At the same time, import data from the Department of Commerce indicates that imports from Honduras have increased almost 50% in the year ending April 2007. World imports have increased 14% over that time. A Honduran sock safeguard has been one of Congressman Aderholt’s top priorities.

DOC to Lead Business Development Mission to Vietnam
The Department of Commerce has announced that Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez will lead a senior-level U.S. business development mission to Vietnam Nov. 4-8 to promote exports to Vietnam’s leading industry sectors. Specifically, this mission aims to: help U.S. companies already doing business with Vietnam to increase their business there; help U.S. companies that are experienced exporters to enter Vietnam for the first time; address obstacles to trade with Vietnam, including transparency, rule of law, trading and distribution rights, and intellectual property rights protection; and provide information on U.S. government trade financing programs through the inclusion of representatives from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, as appropriate. The DOC notes that there are a number of criteria that each applicant must meet to participate in this mission, including: certifying that the products and services they seek to export are either produced in the U.S. or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content; certifying that exports of such products and services would comply with U.S. export controls and regulations; and signing and submitting an agreement that it and its affiliates (a) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in connection with the company’s/participant’s involvement in this mission and (b) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of foreign officials. Applications to participate in this mission are due by Sept. 12.

CBP Finds IPR Seizures Significantly Ahead of Last Year’s Pace
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Web site statistics regarding the volume and value of its seizures of intellectual property rights infringing articles as of the middle of fiscal year 2007. Highlights of these statistics include the following: CBP had made 7,245 seizures valued at $110.2 million as of mid-FY 2007, up from 5,940 seizures worth $45.7 million as of mid-FY 2006. CBP is on pace to set all-time records for annual IPR seizures by volume and value in FY 2007. Footwear heads the list of goods seized for IPR violations by value, with a total of $39.7 million that accounts for 36 percent of all seizures. During the same period in FY 2006 footwear seizures were valued at $6.5 million and represented 14 percent of the total and wearing apparel was valued at $15.7 million and represent 17 percent. A total of $89.2 million worth of the infringing goods seized as of mid-FY 2007 was from China, representing 81 percent of the total value of all seized goods. This amount is more than double the $34.3 million tallied as of mid-FY 2006. China was followed as a source of infringing goods seized by Hong Kong ($6.0 million, five percent), Taiwan ($2.8 million, three percent), Pakistan ($1.2 million, one percent) and Egypt ($821,650, less than one percent). For China, the top five seized goods by value included footwear ($38.7 million, 43 percent) and wearing apparel ($10.1 million, 11 percent). The leading seized goods by value from the other top five countries included wearing apparel from Pakistan ($1.2 million, 99 percent) and wearing apparel from Egypt ($713,756, 59 percent).

Pakistan Seeks Action on Trade Zones. Pakistani Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan recently stated that legislation could be introduced in the U.S. Congress in September that would provide for the creation of reconstruction opportunity zones, special areas in Afghanistan and the border regions of Pakistan where goods could be made and sent to the U.S. duty-free. The ROZs are similar in concept and purpose to the Qualified Industrial Zones linking Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Khan was in Washington this week for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and other Bush administration officials; in addition to the ROZs, the two sides addressed the Doha Round negotiations, intellectual property rights protection and a possible bilateral investment treaty.

New Bill Would Reward Companies for Producing Goods and Services in U.S.
A new bill was introduced last week that would provide tax breaks and other preferences to so-called “patriot corporations.” The bill’s Democratic sponsors, Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama of Illinois and Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Reps. Phil Hare and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, said the measure is designed to reward companies that source their goods and services in the U.S. and withdraw government aid for those that have moved production overseas. According to a fact sheet from Rep. Schakowsky, the Patriot Corporations of America Act would reward companies certified as patriot corporations with a five percent tax rate reduction and preferential treatment for government contracts. To qualify as a patriot corporation, companies would have to meet the following criteria: produce at least 90 percent of their goods and services in the U.S.; limit top management compensation to no greater than 10,000 percent of that of their lowest compensated full-time workers; spend at least 50 percent of their research and development budgets in the U.S.; contribute at least five percent of payroll to a portable pension fund; pay at least 70 percent of the cost of health insurance plans; maintain neutrality in employee organizing drives; comply with federal regulations regarding the environment, workplace safety, consumer protections and labor relations; pay the difference between the regular salary and the military salary of all National Guard and Reserve employees who are called to active duty According to a joint press release, the companies would have to maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in the U.S. relative to the number of full-time workers outside the U.S., maintain corporate headquarters in the U.S. if they have ever been headquartered in the U.S., and pay each worker at least $7.80 per hour.

CBP Issues New C-TPAT Criteria for Port Authorities, Terminal Operators and Mexican Truck Carriers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Web site the new minimum criteria for membership in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism for (a) U.S. and foreign-based marine port authorities and terminal operators and (b) Mexican long-haul highway carriers. According to CBP, MPTOs and Mexican long-haul carriers wishing to enroll in C-TPAT will have 120 days from Aug. 6 to implement all of the security measures outlined in these criteria. Those who are already C-TPAT members must meet or exceed these criteria by the end of this timeframe as well.

The areas covered by the new minimum security criteria include the following.

• business partner requirements
• container security (MPTOs)/conveyance security (carriers)
• conveyance tracking and monitoring procedures (carriers only)
• less-than-truckload (carriers only)
• physical access controls
• personnel security
• procedural security
• physical security
• information technology security
• security training and threat awareness

CBP notes that existing C-TPAT member MPTOs and Mexican long-haul carriers will not be required to provide a written certification that the security criteria have been met, nor will previously submitted and accepted security profiles need to be resubmitted. CBP will continue to use validations to gauge whether or not these entities have adopted these security criteria. Those found to be deficient may have their benefits suspended or be removed from the program entirely.

CITA Increases Import Limits for Chinese Textiles
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has issued a directive, effective Aug. 8, adjusting the import limits for certain cotton, wool, manmade fiber, silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products produced or manufactured in China and exported during the period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2007. The current limits for numerous categories are being increased for carryover.

USTR Seeks Input on China’s Compliance with WTO Commitments
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee will convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the USTR in the preparation of its annual report to Congress on China’s compliance with the commitments it made in connection with its accession to the WTO. This includes commitments in the following areas: trading rights; import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, import licenses); export regulation; internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, government procurement, trade-related investment measures, and taxes and charges levied on imports and exports); intellectual property rights (including IPR enforcement); services; rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform; and other WTO commitments. A hearing will be held in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27. Persons wishing to testify at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention, as well as a copy of their testimony, by noon on Sept. 13. Written comments are due by noon on Sept. 17.

 

The contents printed in this document are informational in nature. They are gathered from various industry sources and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or actions of THA.

# # #