United States international trade Commission has announced that US imports of apparel increased in 2005, reflecting a trend by retailers and apparel companies to increasingly source from lower-cost offshore providers, especially lower-cost Asian suppliers, since the elimination of quotas. A 5 percent increase in consumer spending on apparel also boosted demand for imports.
China is the largest foreign supplier of textiles, apparel, and footwear, accounting for 27 percent of U.S. textile and apparel imports and 71 percent of U.S. footwear imports in 2005 by value. Apparel imports from other Asian suppliers also increased in 2005: India, up 34 percent to $3.2 billion, and Indonesia, up 20 percent to $3.0 billion.
U.S. exports of textiles and apparel rose for a second consecutive year, by $201 million (1 percent) to $17.9 billion, reflecting slightly larger shipments to the major foreign markets for the U.S. textile and apparel sector, namely NAFTA signatories Canada and Mexico and the beneficiary countries under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.
The U.S. trade deficit in footwear continued to widen in 2005 as U.S. consumers increased their purchases of a variety of footwear items to respond to fashion trends and new styles of footwear. Vietnam continued to emerge as a growing footwear supplier as some U.S. importers seek to diversify their sources of supply.
China is the largest foreign supplier of textiles, apparel, and footwear, accounting for 27 percent of U.S. textile and apparel imports and 71 percent of U.S. footwear imports in 2005 by value. Apparel imports from other Asian suppliers also increased in 2005: India, up 34 percent to $3.2 billion, and Indonesia, up 20 percent to $3.0 billion.
U.S. exports of textiles and apparel rose for a second consecutive year, by $201 million (1 percent) to $17.9 billion, reflecting slightly larger shipments to the major foreign markets for the U.S. textile and apparel sector, namely NAFTA signatories Canada and Mexico and the beneficiary countries under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.
The U.S. trade deficit in footwear continued to widen in 2005 as U.S. consumers increased their purchases of a variety of footwear items to respond to fashion trends and new styles of footwear. Vietnam continued to emerge as a growing footwear supplier as some U.S. importers seek to diversify their sources of supply.
