The U.S. imported 3.827 billion U.S. dollars worth of cotton apparel in January 2007, which represented 11.34 percent year-on-year growth. In quantity terms, imports expanded 13.9 percent to 1.169 billion square meter equivalents. Imports from China surged 92.2 percent in volume to 361.1 million square meter equivalents, worth 1.056 billion U.S. dollars. In volume and value terms, January imports reached a new all-time record, with the previous record set in June 2005 when 1.0108 billion U.S. dollars worth of cotton apparel was imported. That surge was related to an attempt to avoid the new import quotas. The increase in imports was focused on nightwear, women and girl's slacks, dresses, underwear, women and girl's knit blouses, men and boy's trousers, non-knit shirts, hosiery and sweaters.
