Agoa apparel exports fall in value and volume

NEW TRADE data to March 2005 for the first time reveal a decline in volume and value of apparel exports from Agoa countries to the US. Africa’s overall share of the US garment market appears to be significantly lower compared with that of the previous year, both in nominal and relative terms, according to agoa.info “This is especially so considering the recent surge in imports experienced by the US from other sources, following the lifting of quantitative restrictions in accordance with the Multifibre Agreement,” according to information posted on the site. But US authorities have been quick to come to the aid of domestic industry: by mid-May it had imposed quantitative restrictions on a total of seven textile categories by implementing a second batch of trade remedies (i.e. quotas) against Chinese imports.