Sino-American Trade War Victimizes Textile Enterprises
Source: ccct Date: 2007-04-05
China Textile & Garment Fair, which has been held every year in US for the last 7 years, has attracted over 1000 top garment, fabric and household textile enterprises.
These enterprises are welcome by many American clients, however, American Embassy and Consulate General does not seem to be interested in Chinese products. This has created difficulties for Chinese textile enterprises to apply for an American visa.
In 2000, about 20 percent of Chinese textile enterprises were rejected when they applied for American visa; in 2001, the rejection rate increased to 30 percent; in 2002, it reached about 40 percent; in 2005, it was about 50 percent.
In 2005, participation from Chinese textile enterprises in "China Textile & Garment Fair" decreased from 250 enterprises to 170 enterprises, and number of participants from textile industry went down to 200 from 420 businessmen.
It is reported that a Chinese socks manufacturer has signed an agreement to set up a factory in US in collaboration with an American company. All equipments and machiery have been transported to the US, but Chinese engineers who were in charge of installation of the machinery could not get visa from US Embassy. Even after a year, the Embassy has not granted visa to the engineers and machinery and equipments have been in the American warehouse.
