By midweek the success -- or failure -- of textile and apparel trade talks between the U.S. and China should be clear. The two sides met in Beijing initially on August 16 and 17 with the aim of reaching a "broad textile agreement."
The Bush Administration is under pressure from Congress and U.S. textile and apparel producers to protect the domestic industry from market disruption. The U.S. imposed limited quotas on textile imports from China on May 23 and 27. The current talks, also being held in Beijing, are focused on finding a longer-term solution.
