GUATEMALA CITY ?Jacobo Kattan was hoping to build an industrial park and create 8,000 new jobs after the expected implementation of a regional free-trade pact last month. Instead, he's had to fire 2,000 workers and close three clothing factories. The delay in implementing the Central American Free Trade Agreement has hit the region's clothing industry hard, putting factories in legal limbo while much of their business leaves for Asia. The free trade agreement, known as CAFTA-DR, was suppo

Thai garment export is set to expand at least 8-10 percent, valued at $3.6 billion this year compared to $3.47 billion achieved previous year, said an industry executive.A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between France and Thai Garments Association is scheduled to be signed on February 18, under the Bangkok: City of Fashion Project, said Thienchai Mahasiri, President of the Thai Garments Association.France considers Thai clothes, especially local ones, as very attractive and as such, the garme

India is not in a position to impose further anti dumping duties on Chinese silk, other than those existing under WTO, despite fears that the opening of the Indo-Chinese trade through Nathula in Sikkim would flood the domestic market with cheaper silk products from the comunist nation. "Anti-dumping duties exist at present under the WTO. It is difficult to add further duties now," Union Textiles Minister Shankersinh Vaghela told newsmen after inaugurating the Textile Committee's new building

China's monthly trade surplus in January rose 46.7 per cent year-on-year to US$9.49 billion, according to statistics published yesterday by the General Administration of Customs. The increase, which was higher than economists predicted, was contributed mainly to the Lunar New Year. Experts said domestic companies rushed to fill their orders in January, because they wanted to get their money before Lunar New Year, which began at the end of January. Extra discretion is needed when inte

Indonesia's exports of textiles and textile products (TPT) rose 13 per cent year-on-year to US$7.3 billion in the first 10 months of 2005, the Indonesian Textile Association (API) said. API Executive Secretary Ernovian G. Ismy described the increase as significant amid doubt earlier that the country could survive the competition following the abolition of export quotas in January, 2005, by major markets including the United States, Canada and the European Union. Ismy said Indonesian shares in

Elimination of textile quotas has benefited Asian exports dramatically. A data by US Office of Textiles and Apparels (OTEXA) revealed that in the first post-quota year, 2005, exports to the US reached $4.6 billion, a 27 percent rise over 2004. Indian textile companies have also sold much higher volumes in 2005 at 2335 million square metres, a 22 percent increase over 2004. Indian firms sold apparels worth $2.97 billion in 2005, an increase of over 34 percent. Analysts predict that av

Free Trade Agreement has brought in a dramatic rise in exports of textiles and garments for Thailand as forecast by the Textile Institute.Thailand takes advantage of the agreement signed with other nations and from quota restrictions the US has imposed on China, said Virat Tandechanurat, the Institute Director.Thai textiles exports to US, Japan and Europe would go up 12 percent, added Virat.He said, last year the value of exports was recorded at Baht270 billion (US $6.75 billion).The increase ha

Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT) announced that in Beijing, the Brazilian government signed an agreement on the voluntary restriction of Chinese imports into Brazil. The measure satisfies the Brazilian apparel and textile sector's main demands. The sector has been working for some time in the attempt to reduce predatorily competition between the two countries. Representatives from ABIT? International Area participated directly in the negotiations with China. ABIT mulls o

Pakistani government has asked the European Union (EU) to slash tariffs for Pakistan's textile exports if possible, during 2005-06 FY, said Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister.EU has imposed high tariff rates on Pakistani textile exports, revealed the latest report of Pakistani Planning Commission; the Commission also urged EU administration to review their high tariffs on Pakistan products.Average applied tariffs on clothing products are even higher at 45 percent for Pakistan and India.Pakistani gover

BANGKOK - Thailand's Textile InstituteMonday predicted a bright increase in export values for textiles and garments this year, thanks to free trade agreements Thailand has signed with other nations and quota restrictions the US government has imposed on China.Virat Tandechanurat, the institute director, said Thai textiles have benefited from the lifting of trade barriers and quotas under free trade agreements which would push up their export value with the US, Japan, and Europe by 12 per cent. H