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U.S. Begins Steps to Limit Import Surge From China |
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By
EDMUND L. ANDREWS and
ELIZABETH BECKER
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In an abrupt policy reversal, the Commerce Department said that it would begin an investigation into the need to re-impose trade quotas that were lifted just three months ago on a wide variety of Chinese apparel.
"Free trade must be fair trade, and we will work to ensure that American manufacturers and workers compete on a level playing field," Carlos Gutierrez, the commerce secretary, said in a statement.
The announcement came just three days after the administration published data showing that imports of cotton knit shirts increased 1,257 percent in the first three months of 2005 compared with the first quarter of 2004. Imports of Chinese cotton trousers jumped 1,500 percent, while imports of underwear tripled.
