Progress in battle against cheap textile imports

This year, the department
of trade and industry's (dti)
battle against the flood of
ultra-cheap imports of textiles
and fabrics from China and
other Asian sources has had
a positive effect, according to
Brian Brink of the SA Textile
Federation.
“Not as dramatic as we
could have hoped for, but still
positive,” he added.
The reference pricing,
which allows customs
to stop any products
declared below those
reference prices, has
seen an increase in the
prices of these imports.
“But there’s still a long
way to go,” said Brink.
“We still need to fight
the good fight along
with customs and the
dti.”
He also noted that the
support measures for the local
industry implemented by the
dti had had a beneficial
effect.
“We have, for example,
seen an increase in capital
investment,” Brink said.
“That, and the battle against
cheap imports, has certainly
halted the decline in the SA
textile and clothing industry.”