The United States and China are edging closer to a deal that could curb billions of dollars in clothing imports from China, but one more round of talks may be needed, US industry officials said on Wednesday.
"I think the bet right now is they're seriously going for it," said Cass Johnson, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations. "It's certainly a better dynamic than we've seen in the past."
US and Chinese negotiators met for the third day on Wednesday in pursuit of a deal that would resolve textile trade frictions that have become a headache for both sides.
Chinese shipments of shirts, pants, bras, underwear and other clothing to the United States surged dramatically when a global quota system ended on January 1, prompting the U.S. industry to seek relief.
The two sides made little progress toward a deal in two previous rounds of talks in San Francisco and Beijing, getting snagged on basic elements such as the length of the pact. The United States wants a deal that runs through 2008 and China prefers an agreement that lasts through 2007, like the deal it struck with the European Union.
Washington already has restricted many clothing imports from China under a special "safeguard" provision of Beijing's entry into the World Trade Organization. That measure allows countries to hold clothing and textile imports from China at 7.5 percent above the previous year in response to a "market-disrupting" surge.
U.S. textile groups want an agreement that would restrict 30 or more categories of clothing and textile imports from China through 2008, when the safeguard provision expires.
"I think they've made more progress on product coverage than anything else," Johnson said.
But by early Wednesday, the two sides still hadn't agreed on the length of the pact or other critical issues, such as the size of the initial quotas, or annual growth rates, he said.
"I don't know if they can get enough done here" to wrap up an agreement, Johnson said, suggesting another round of talks in Beijing or elsewhere may be needed for that.
China has pushed Washington to promise it would exercise restraint in using the safeguard provision if Beijing agrees to voluntary curbs on U.S. clothing exports.
U.S. clothing importers and retailers want any agreement to allow for progressively higher imports.
