This summer's second round of textile and apparel trade talks between the U.S. and China has ended without an agreement. The two sides are now negotiating on the date and location for a third round of talks aimed at reaching a "broad textile agreement." The first two rounds were held in Beijing.
The Bush administration remains under pressure from Congress and U.S. textile and apparel producers to protect the domestic industry from a surge of imports following the expiration of the quota-setting international multifiber agreement this past January 1. The U.S. imposed limited quotas on textile imports from China on May 23 and May 27.
