FRANKFURT — September 26, 2011 — A service geared to the needs of specialist retailers and interior
decorators: for the next Heimtextil (11 to 14 January 2012) Messe Frankfurt is offering a new
theme-specific exhibitor directory in the shape of the Coupon Business Finder. The Finder lists
exhibitors that offer home and household textiles in small and very small quantities.

The new Coupon Business Finder is deliberately aimed at Heimtextil visitors from the
specialist retail trade and the interior decorating business who want to order quantities tailored
to their varying needs for a flexible product range. “The new Coupon Business Finder provides an
overview of exhibitors whose production facilities enable them to offer even small batch sizes”,
explains Ulrike Wechsung, Director Heimtextil. Thanks to the new publication, the people
responsible for Heimtextil can provide all those interested in coupons with a guide to their trade
fair visit, thus making it easier for them to find new suppliers and business partners. The
exhibitors’ stands listed in the Coupon Business Finder are marked by a logo on the exhibition
stand.



ZVR and BTE praise for new service offer

The new service offer for visitors to Heimtextil is very much appreciated by the Central
Association of Interior Design & Decorating Societies (Zentralverband Raum und Ausstattung
-ZVR): “The new directory is a convenient form of orientation that will be really useful for
visitors from the interior decorating business. This service once again underlines the great
importance that Heimtextil has for interior decorators”, says Henning Cronemeyer, Managing Director
of the Central Association of Interior Design & Decorating Societies. Axel Augustin, General
Manager of the German Association of the Textile Retail Trade (Bundesverband des Deutschen Textileinzelhandels e.V. – BTE) is also pleased: “Small and
medium-sized specialist retailers can only afford to invest the little time they have available at
the fair to visit the stands they want to visit. So they are glad of any assistance that will guide
them precisely to the exhibitors they are looking for.”

Three theme-specific exhibitor directories

The Coupon Business Finder will be issued, for example, to interior decorators in the
Heimtextil Insider Lounge and to bed dealers at the Bed’n Excellence welcome counter. It will also
be on display at many other locations in the exhibition grounds. Messe Frankfurt will thus publish
three theme-specific exhibitor directories for the international trade fair for home and contract
textiles: along with the new Coupon Business Finder, there will once again be a Contract Guide for
Heimtextil 2012 listing all suppliers of home textiles for the contract business. There will also
be an updated edition of the Green Directory for the fair. It provides an overview of companies and
their products that stand out because of their high ecological quality or sustainable manufacturing
methods. Apart from the above, Messe Frankfurt traditionally publishes a catalogue of all
Heimtextil exhibitors with the appropriate labels under the name of each exhibitor. This enables
the visitor to identify exhibitors that have an entry in the three theme-specific directories.
Visitors can also look for specific exhibitors at
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com or in the
Mobile App.

Posted on October 4, 2011

Source: Messe Frankfurt

By a vote of 79 to 19, the U.S. Senate has voted to invoke cloture on S.1619, the Currency Exchange
Rate Oversight Act of 2011, which addresses foreign currency undervaluation and aims to provide an
equitable marketplace in which U.S. products can compete with foreign goods. Similar in scope to
H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act passed overwhelmingly by the House of
Representatives in 2010, the bipartisan bill details U.S. Department of Commerce responsibilities
related to investigation on a case-by-case basis of alleged currency subsidies and their effect on
U.S. exports.

The Fair Currency Coalition and the National Textile Association (NTA) strongly support the
bill and are urging its swift passage. In a letter sent to the Senate prior to the vote, the Fair
Currency Coalition noted that the bill “will create jobs, reduce deficits, and stop countries like
China from weakening our economy by unlawful means like currency manipulation.” The letter included
a petition signed by 129 national and state business, labor and agriculture organizations,
including NTA and several other associations representing the interests of the textile industry;
and 333 individual companies, including a number of textile manufacturers, from 40 states.

In its blog posted on October 3, NTA stated: “The positive impact of S.1619 to America’s
textile industry would be enormous. U.S. exports would rise and more jobs would be created. More
U.S. research and development would be encouraged and new investment in new plant and equipment
would grow. Finally, the U.S. economy would be stimulated without incurring any new public debt or
budgetary expenditures.”

The National Retail Federation (NRF) opposes the bill, warning that a loss of U.S. jobs could
result if the bill passes and that its passage could bring on a trade war with China. “The gains in
jobs that could be seen are minimal at best, and billions of dollars in trade and employment at
American companies that do business with China would be put at risk. It would do nothing to reduce
the trade deficit because trade would simply move to other Asian countries,” said NRF Vice
President and International Trade Counsel Erik Autor.

October 4, 2011

Nano-Tex — an Oakland, Calif.-based supplier of nanotechnology-based textile enhancements for
apparel, home and interiors applications — has developed a finish that provides a high level of
wrinkle resistance while maintaining a fabric’s tear and tensile strength and integrity.

According to Nano-Tex, Fortify DP’s nanoscale molecule structure enables it to penetrate
deeper into the fabric’s fibers, resulting in a higher durable press rate than that provided by
traditional technology. In addition, Fortify DP’s cross-linking structure is longer and more
flexible, which reduces fiber stress under tension and therefore reduces strength loss associated
with traditional wrinkle-free technology. Nano-Tex reports the finish is long-lasting and gives
fabrics a smooth, neat appearance.

October 6, 2011

The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), Dalton, Ga., is among a national coalition of organizations
that have founded the Product Management Alliance (PMA), an inter-industry partnership launched to
support voluntary market-based solutions for product stewardship. The PMA — whose founding members
represent the carpet, mattress, electronics, toy, paper, packaging and transportation materials,
plastics, personal goods and pharmaceutical industries — states it “will work to address its
members’ concerns relating to government policies that mandate extended producer responsibility and
programs that shift the costs of product collection solely to the manufacturer and will work with
experts in industry and government in order to ensure a consistent policy for recovery, take-back
programs and other extended producer responsibility models.”

California’s AB 2398 Carpet Stewardship Bill — the first extended producer responsibility
legislation in the United States to specifically address carpet, as well as the first to regulate a
non-hazardous product — became effective July 1, 2011. AB 2398 offers financial incentives for
carpet recycling with funds collected through a 5-cents-per-square-yard assessment on all carpet
sold or shipped into California. Several states including Massachusetts and Rhode Island have
presented similar bills that are either pending or under consideration.

CRI Government Relations Director and PMA Treasurer Jennifer Mendez says she expects to see
additional bills, as well as broad-based framework legislation addressing multiple industries and
product classes, proposed during the 2012 state legislature sessions. “It’s important for the
carpet and other industries to join forces and have our voices heard on the vital issue of end-of
life management for products before governments pass more mandates,” Mendez said. “Business models
for product recovery need to work for all the parties involved, for the sake of our economy as well
as the environment.”

October 4, 2011

TOKYO — The United States and seven other countries signed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
(ACTA) at a ceremony today in Tokyo, marking an important step forward in the international fight
against trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.  

Between 10 and 20 million American jobs depend on intellectual property rights, according to
studies and industry estimates. The ACTA aims to strengthen enforcement of those rights around the
world, providing greater protection for U.S. exporters in innovative and creative industries.

“Protecting intellectual property is essential to American jobs in innovative and creative
industries. The ACTA provides a platform for the Obama Administration to work cooperatively with
other governments to advance the fight against counterfeiting and piracy,” said U.S. Trade
Representative Ron Kirk on the occasion of the signing. “Today marks a major milestone in the
process of putting this Agreement into force.” 

All eleven ACTA negotiating parties attended the ceremony. Representatives of Australia,
Canada, Japan, Korea, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States signed the Agreement.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro signed on behalf of the United States.
Representatives of the European Union, Mexico, and Switzerland attended and confirmed their
continuing support for the Agreement as they complete their domestic procedures to enable them to
sign.   

  

• A USTR fact sheet on the ACTA can be found
  here.
• The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative also released its views on key aspects of the
  Agreement. That document can be found
  here.
• All of the ACTA negotiating parties released a joint statement marking the signing. That
  statement can be found
  here.
  ACTA opened for signature on May 1, 2011. The Government of Japan is Depositary of the Agreement,
  and parties who have not yet signed may submit their signatures to Japan. For those who have
  already signed, the next step in bringing the ACTA into force is the deposit of instruments of
  ratification, acceptance, or approval. The agreement will enter into force following the deposit of
  the sixth such instrument. 

Posted on October 4, 2011

Source: USTR

WASHINGTON — October 3, 2011 — United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk today called for swift
congressional action on legislation for pending trade agreements between the United States and
South Korea, Colombia, and Panama, along with renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance reforms and
expired trade preference programs. President Barack Obama formally submitted the legislation for
the three pending trade agreements to Congress today.  

“Growing American exports to South Korea, Colombia, and Panama will support tens of thousands
of jobs here at home. We must take every opportunity to get America back to work, and Congress
should pass these agreements without delay,” said Ambassador Kirk. “The House should also support
jobs for American workers by supporting targeted assistance and training for those who may be
displaced by trade. Taken together, the pending trade agreements and Trade Adjustment Assistance
advance a balanced trade agenda that opens new markets for our exporters and new opportunities for
America’s working families.” 

Under Trade Promotion Authority already granted by Congress, the legislation for the trade
agreements may not be amended, and Congress has 90 days to hold up-or-down votes on each. 
Changes to the legislation would make it subject to normal rules and procedures, including
amendment and filibuster.

In 2010 and 2011, the Obama Administration worked with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama to
successfully address outstanding issues related to each of the three agreements. In particular, the
Administration secured: greater U.S. access to the South Korean auto market; significantly
increased labor rights and worker protections in Colombia; and enhanced tax transparency and labor
rights in Panama. The Administration has been clear that once approved by Congress, agreements will
enter into force only if trading partners are meeting their commitments; for instance, Colombia
must successfully implement key elements of the agreed Action Plan Related to Labor Rights before
the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement will enter into force. Colombia has met all milestones to date as
specified in the Action Plan, including enactment of several far-reaching reforms.

Legislation for the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement also includes a renewal of the Andean Trade
Preferences Act. ATPA was enacted in December 1991 to help Andean countries in their fight against
drug production and trafficking by expanding their economic alternatives.

Late last month, the Senate approved legislation to renew the Generalized System of
Preferences and also to streamline and save costs on a renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance
reforms. The Senate has sent that legislation to the House, where the Speaker has committed to its
consideration in tandem with the pending trade agreements.

The Generalized System of Preferences expired in December 2010. It promotes economic growth
in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for products from designated
beneficiary countries and territories; GSP also supports American jobs and improves American
competitiveness as many American businesses use GSP imports as inputs to manufacture goods in the
United States.

TAA provides training and support for American workers who are negatively affected by trade
and is traditionally in place as trade agreements pass. It is designed to help workers, firms,
farmers and fishermen transition to alternative employment. The bipartisan compromise negotiated by
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and House Ways & Means Committee
Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) is consistent with the goals of the 2009 law that improved the scope
and effectiveness of the program – for instance, covering Americans employed in the services sector
in addition to U.S. manufacturing workers. TAA is an essential component of President Obama’s
balanced trade agenda.



Posted on October 4, 2011

Source: USTR