Cotton Incorporated Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of Mexico Office

Cotton Incorporated is celebrating
the tenth anniversary of its Mexico City office, the first office of its kind for the cotton
industry, servicing textile mills and manufacturers in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Basin
and South America.

To celebrate a decade of accomplishments, the Mexico City office will be hosting noted Latin
American textile industry members at the Franz Mayer Museum on November 16, 2005, by invitation
only, for cocktails, dinner and a presentation of fabric developments by Cotton Incorporated.
Representing Cotton Incorporated will be: Dean Turner, senior vice president, global product
marketing; Mike Tyndall, senior director, Latin America & Europe; and Jaime Flores, director
Mexico. Among the honored guests attending are: Larry Rubin, president, American Chamber of
Commerce; Moises Alfie, president, Diesel, Mexico; Luis Camarillo, president, Levi’s, Latin
America; Camilo Maurer, purchasing director, Wal-Mart, Mexico; Rosendo Valles, president, Textile
Chamber, Mexico; and Adolfo Kalach, vice president, Manufacturas Kaltex.

The Mexico City office has been instrumental in establishing relationships with key textile
mills in the region during the last ten years. The office currently offers a variety of services
ranging from fiber economics, fiber quality, fiber processing, dyeing and finishing, fabric
development and apparel and home fashion trend forecasting.

Additionally, the office hosts a complete
COTTONWORKS™ Fabric Library, showcasing cotton fabrics from more than 300 mills,
knitters and converters. The library serves as a one-stop resource for retailers, designers and
manufacturers.

Says Berrye Worsham, president and CEO, Cotton Incorporated, “When we began operation of the
Mexico City office in November of 1995, it was because we recognized that we needed a presence in
the very crucial Mexican, Central American and South American markets to ensure the future success
of the international cotton textile industry. We have forged partnerships with many of the mills
and have introduced new technology to them, which in turn has helped them to grow and thrive. We
look forward to a continued and mutually beneficial relationship with our friends in Mexico and the
neighboring regions.”

Jaime Flores, director, Mexico, Cotton Incorporated, comments, “The future finds great and
challenging opportunities. The Mexico City office acts as a protagonist in the development of a
strong cotton business in Latin America. Our objectives are clear. We will enhance key business
strategies among cotton mills and apparel manufacturers for the adoption of new technologies,
develop new products and promote cotton products. We want to keep cotton as the first choice of the
consumer.”

The Mexico City office has initiated new services in the last ten years, including
specialized training to over 600 technicians at four Cotton Technical Conferences (COTTECH,) and
the Cotton Forum attended by over 500 industry members. The office has assisted seven major Mexican
textile mills with the EFS® system to maintain a higher level of bale management. In addition, the
Mexico City office has been integral in making the Cotton Incorporated seal recognized by 70% of
the Mexican population and holds over 165 Seal of Cotton licenses.

Cotton Incorporated, in conjunction with Cotton Council International, participates in key
textile shows, with participation in Fashion Week, Intermoda, Mexico Textil and Exintex in Mexico;
Colombiatex in Columbia; and Apparel Sourcing in Central America. In addition, Cotton Incorporated
presents over 50 fashion trend presentations per year in Spanish to the top textile and
manufacturing companies in Mexico and Latin America with a ten year attendance total of over 2,500
people.

Press Release Courtesy of Cotton Incorporated

November 2005

Sawgrass Technologies Acquires Rotech Digital

Sawgrass Technologies Inc., a leading
developer of digital printing technologies, announced today that it has acquired Rotech Digital, a
major supplier of sublimation inks. Rotech will continue to operate independently as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Sawgrass Technologies and maintain its offices and staff in Denmark.

Rotech provides a wide range of digital imaging products including sublimation inks, bulk
ink systems, color management solutions, and transfer papers. The Rotech ink product line is a
platform proven sublimation solution for both small format and production printers. Rotech inks
will serve as the latest brand in the Sawgrass product offering, which includes SuliJet and
ArTainium inks.

“Rotech broadens the Sawgrass production portfolio, providing more choice to the global
marketplace,” said Nathan Hale, CEO, Sawgrass. “With their established brand recognition and
customer base, Rotech increases our global presence and strengthens our leadership in sublimation
technologies.”

“We look forward to working with the talented team at Sawgrass Technologies. Our
complementary products and services are a natural fit, enabling us to take advantage of Sawgrass’
unique color software solutions, industry leading applications support programs, and new transfer
ink technologies to better meet the growing needs of customers,” said Niels Knudsen, managing
director, Rotech Digital.

Press Relase Courtesy of Sawgrass Technologies

November 2005

Fabric And Yarn Production, Yarn Stocks Increase

The latest quarterly State of Trade Report from the International Textile Manufacturers Federation,
Switzerland, reveals second-quarter 2005 world fabric production increased by 4 percent to a new
record level. The gain was due largely to a 10.1-percent South American output increase and a
6-percent Asian increase. Conversely, Europes output fell by 2.4 percent for the third consecutive
quarter, while North Americas production remained steady.


Global fabric stocks fell by 1
percent, with only South America reporting an increase, which amounted to 1.4 percent. North
America’s inventory fell by 2.4 percent, Asia’s dropped by 2.2 percent and Europe saw a 0.7-percent
decline.

Global yarn production rose by 0.2 percent, with regional output reductions of 1 percent in
Europe, 4 percent in South America and 2.6 percent in North America. These decreases were offset by
an output increase of 1.7 percent in Asia — largely due to gains of 10.6 percent in Korea, 1.6
percent in India and

1.5 percent in Pakistan.

Global yarn stocks rose by 0.2 percent. Regionally, however, South American yarn inventories
dipped by 10.1 percent, and inventories dropped by 1.7 percent in Europe and 5.5 percent in North
America. Asia’s inventory rose by 2.9 percent.

Yarn orders fell by 3.6 percent in Europe and 1.6 percent in Brazil, while fabric orders
rose by 6.2 percent in Brazil and 2.4 percent in Europe.



November/December 2005

SDL Atlas Introduces MMT ColorChex Upgraded M233B

SDL Atlas, England, has released a
Moisture Management Tester (MMT) for knitted and woven apparel fabrics, the ColorChex line of
viewing cabinets for color matching and grading, and an upgraded M233B automatic flammability
tester.

The table-top MMT, designed to comply with American Association of Textile Chemists and
Colorists, International Organization for Standardization and Standards Norway (drafting)
standards, measures a fabric’s dynamic moisture-transport properties and provides the
moisture-absorbing rate of its inner and outer surfaces, inner-to-outer-surface transportation
capability and moisture-spreading rate. It also delivers six key indexes including wetting time,
absorption rate, maximum wetted radius, liquid spreading speed, accumulative one-way transport
capacity and overall moisture-management capacity.

The ColorChex cabinets meet and exceed existing international standards, and are priced
lower than conventional cabinets offered by other North American and European companies, according
to SDL. The compact ColorChex N7, designed to meet the requirements of suppliers to the North
American market, provides five different light sources, an ASTM D1729-compliant neutral gray
interior with a surround and ambient field color of Munsell N7, and a remote-control option to
select light sources. The larger ColorChex 60 and ColorChex 120 models offer precision matching to
the requirements of leading British and European retailers, reproducing light source spectral
characteristics and duplicating the interior, which enables users to match results of existing
cabinet users.

The computer-controlled M233B, which features an optional radiator assembly to enable
testing to British Standard EN 13772:2003, includes interchangeable test frames and burners,
automatic flame ignition and flame application timer, and new Windows®-based software.



November/December 2005

Invista Unveils XFIT Lycra®

Wilmington, Del.-based Invista
S.A.R.L. recently unveiled its new XFIT Lycra® fabric at the Rock & Republic® fashion show in
Los Angeles. Xfit Lycra is a patented denim cross-weave technology that delivers better fitting and
more comfortable garments because of its four-way stretch delivery, according to Invista.

“Xfit Lycra fabric provides a wider fit to accommodate more diverse body types, giving the
wearer the best, most flattering rear view,” said Duane Moosberg, Lycra business development
director. “The new sculpting technique also gives jeans lasting good looks because of the improved
shape memory, while looking and feeling like authentic denim.”

Invista worked with Central Fabrics – a division of the Hong Kong-based Central Textiles
Group – to produce Xfit. Central Fabrics is the first production licensee to develop and
commercialize Xfit Lycra fabrics for distribution.


lycra
Invista unveiled its XFIT Lycra® fabric at the RockandRepublic fashion show.

November 2005

Barriers To Entry


P
 rotection from nasty viruses and other infectious microorganisms is a paramount concern
within the medical sector. Antimicrobial and sterilization treatments do their part to eliminate
surface contaminants, but there are times when a physical barrier is needed to prevent penetration
of blood- or other fluid-borne pathogens — for example, in a surgical or emergency response
environment where the practitioner or responder may come in direct contact with such pathogens, or
to protect a wound from outside infection while it heals.

omniflex

Waterproof, breathable membranes bonded to fabrics used for surgical gowns and masks, wound
dressing and cast coverings, and other protective clothing can provide such protection. The
membranes may be monolithic or microporous, or a bicomponent film that takes advantage of the
particular attributes of each.

While monolithic and microporous films may provide similar protective and comfort
properties, they differ in their physical structures and ways of functioning.

Microporous films have microscopic pores through which vapor such as perspiration may be
transmitted via gaseous diffusion or convection. Depending on pore size, liquid molecules are too
large to pass through. However, liquids under pressure may be able to penetrate these films; and
contamination by substances such as body oils, pollutants, cleaning substances and others also may
adversely affect the membrane’s water repellency.

Monolithic films contain no pores that might allow liquid penetration, and moisture vapor is
transmitted via a solid-state diffusion process. However, the films will swell and stretch when
wet, which can cause cracking and weakening over time if the film is made from a polymer that does
not offer good stretch and recovery.

Monolithic films made with
thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), copolyester or ether-amide polymers are said to offer good to
excellent stretch and recovery, reducing the likelihood of cracking and increasing the film’s
durability and abrasion resistance, according to Paul Darby, president, Omniflex Inc. — the
Greenfield, Mass.-based maker of Omniflex Transport®, a line of extruded monolithic films made with
these materials.

Darby said extruded films are more
supple than liquid films, which are coated onto a fabric or a nonwoven, stiffening it in the
process. He also noted there are advantages to using extruded films such as Transport that are made
without the use of processing aids that can reduce the fabric’s breathability and affect the
strength of the bond between film and fabric.

Darby pointed out that TPU, copolyester and ether-amide films are quiet and comfortable and
offer a soft hand — with TPU offering the highest degree not only of these qualities, but also of
stretch and recovery and breathability. Because such films also are chemical- and
temperature-resistant, they are more cost-effective to use than bicomponent films that include
polytetrafluoroethylene to provide those qualities, and yield garments that are lighter-weight and
more compressible than those made with bicomponent films.

November/December 2005

DyStar Develops New Dyes, Unveils Premium Workwear Concept

Germany-based DyStar Textilfarben
GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG has developed a range of new dyes.

Indanthren® Navy SR is a vat dye created for workwear, while Remazol Luminous Yellow FL is
the world’s first fluorescent reactive dye developed for high-visibility end-uses for cotton.

Levafix FastRed CA is the latest addition to the Levafix CA range. It is a copper-free dye
suitable for pale to medium shades that may be applied by all common dyeing methods.

In other company news, DyStar has developed a Premium Workwear Concept that includes select
Indanthren and Dianix® dyes combined with a unique Premium Workwear label. The label will aid
manufacturers in differentiating their offerings from those of their competitors, and will show the
quality of their products at all stages of the supply chain.

In addition, DyStar has been selected as an authorized laboratory for colorfastness testing
for the England-based Marks & Spencer chain of retail stores.

November/December 2005

Asian Fiber Consumption Update



I
 n
an early draft aimed at exposing the
risks of unfinished trade agreements with China,

Textile World
 commented on the likelihood of a new reality of sinking certainty in the outcome of textile
and apparel quota negotiations between the United States and China.

According to sources at the time, both sides agreed to the need for short-term controls, but
true to form, the devil was in the details of defining a practical, substantive growth rate for
Chinese apparel exports to the United States.

Two scenarios appeared likely: First, no agreement would be reached — and no future talks
would be scheduled — and Washington would apply 7.5-percent annual growth caps on exports until
2008, when the specific quota restrictions agreed to by China to gain admission to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) would expire. This solution apparently was unappealing to both sides; but not
sufficiently so to withdraw the last proposal discussed, which offered a menu of growth rates,
dates and bases from which either side could choose.

A settlement has been reached, one relatively consistent with the parameters of the more
generous proposal previously noted incorporating the following features: Ten-percent increases in
apparel shipments and 12.5-percent increases for textiles for 2006. In 2007, rates settle at 12.5
percent in each category, except for fiberglass and thread, which will be allowed to grow at 15
percent annually. Changes in 2008 will include a 15-percent growth against eight products deemed
sensitive by US producers — cotton shirts and pants, bras and underwear. Four other categories —
thread, fiberglass, knit fabric and window blinds — will be allowed to grow 17 percent, with all
other categories limited to 16 percent. The offset has China agreeing to increase the categories
covered up to 34 and, most importantly, agreeing to extend the pact through 2008, a year overlap,
with said caps originally scheduled to evaporate in that year.

With talks settled, industry watchers need to express greater vigilance. A year ago,

TW
 published 2002 data about the levels of consumption in Asian mills
(See “
An
Asian Irony,”
TW, November 2004). Information has been updated through 2003, and a 2004
forecast added. This exercise was begun with a search for changes in consumption by India’s growing
and well-managed fabric industries, and with the hypothesis that recent announcements from Indian
government and private sources projected major expansions in man-made fiber and fabric production.
It did not take long for the study to become complicated by United States/China/WTO negotiations,
leading to the analysis presented here.


Page43


Asian Fiber Consumption

Table 1 details mill consumption of
manufactured fibers — cellulosics plus man-mades — in the larger Asian area from 1996 through a
2004 forecast by the author. By way of identification, the regions are delineated as follows:

• Central Asia — China and Hong Kong;

• Northeast Asia — South Korea, Taiwan and Japan;

• Southeast Asia — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore and
Vietnam; and

• West Asia — India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


Page44_Copy



As shown in the table, growth of fiber consumption in all of Asia continues at an almost
double-digit rate, virtually doubling in the 1996-2004 period. As reported last year, the Central
Asian region leads the parade, consuming almost 60 percent of the manufactured fibers consumed in
all of Asia. Further, Central Asian mills account for 11-plus billion pounds, or 41-plus percent,
of the total Asian consumption of 27 billion pounds
(See Table 2). Together, Central Asian mills consume almost 45 billion pounds of the total
83-plus billion pounds of manufactured fibers plus cotton
(See Table 3).


Page45



China and Hong Kong together consume more than 53 percent of all manufactured fibers plus
cotton — simplistically, polyester/rayon or polyester/cotton blends — consumed in Asia. More
significantly, China and Hong Kong together consume 31-plus percent of all manufactured fibers plus
cotton, consumed in the world, assuming an approximate 143-plus billion pounds of consumption of
all fibers in the world. As an aside, Central Asia consumes almost 60 percent of all fibers
produced in the world.

Continuing the geographic tour, as the post-World War II manufacturing economies of
Northeast Asia are replaced by service and banking economic models, manufactured fiber use among
Northeast Asian mills has stagnated, with indications that further contraction will occur in the
future. Japan continues to unravel its fiber, fabric and apparel complex, remaining industry-active
by providing increasing amounts of capital for other Asian regions’ use in growing from undeveloped
to developing nations.

Southeast Asia is made up of several troubled nations, and its performance in the fiber
economy demonstrates this. Weak economies and questionable governments have bred a lack of access
to world capital, and the area has missed opportunities to employ hordes of economically distressed
workers.

Given the speed with which world fiber markets are changing and growing, it is unlikely that
manufacturers in this area can revise policies and practices and join the capital race from
labor-sensitive to capital-sensitive economies. Considering these countries have existed this long
without the fiber industry, it is fair to conclude their agriculture and chemical industries are
aimed at other basic industries, leaving the textile complex battle to other participants.


The Indian Subcontinent

In a move akin to the formation of
the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s Japan Inc. to guide Japanese industrial growth
after World War II, India has formed several industry/government consortia to provide similar
leadership. India government programs, together with several major product and brand expansions by
Reliance Industries, have led to the Indian presence being felt increasingly in world markets. The
country faces a birth rate that ensures India will house a population larger than China’s within a
decade. With educational access and achievement limited to the few, India appears determined to
structure its economy to offer employment to the entry-level masses in industries such as textiles
and apparel that will generate trade dollars.

Interestingly, cotton consumption in West Asia equals that in Central Asia. Obviously, total
consumption of manufactured fibers plus cotton in Central Asia overwhelms that in West Asia, but an
interesting pattern is developing. Central Asia runs an almost 3 billion-pound net import balance
of manufactured fibers — 10 percent of regional manufactured fiber consumption. West Asia runs a
smaller import balance — only 3-plus percent of manufactured fiber consumption — which raises two
questions. First, are India and its subcontinent neighbors planning to expand man-made fiber
production to soak up more of the area’s supply of cotton and focus the textile complex
increasingly on polyester/cotton apparel exports? Or, are the area participants satisfied with
their current position, secondary to the giant China colossus?

Government programs, reinforced by the actions of Reliance Industries, point to increased
investment in man-made fibers followed by increased exports to the developed world. Ah, the cycle
repeats, although with an unlikely partner.


Where Will It Lead?

What path will apparel imports take
over the next few years? If it’s possible to negotiate equitable import quotas and duties, will the
US textile industry use the breathing room to restructure/remodel/ refinance/redevelop to enhance
its competitive/productivity stance and be ready to compete in a world market?

Based on the situation, it doesn’t look hopeful. Based upon the recent settlement, another
look at China and a more careful appraisal of India, which just may be settling in as a long-time
rival, are needed. After all, if India could last through several centuries of British
rule-fomented confiscatory trade policies, what’s a few years more in a trade war with China over
dominance of international textile trade?

Author’s Note: To simplify graphs and tables, the usage of wool, olefin and miscellaneous
fibers in this analysis has been omitted. For reference, wool consumption totals approximately 1
billion pounds annually across the total Asian region, and olefin does not directly impact the
import/negotiations theme of this article.

November/December 2005

Trade Liberalization Talks Get New Life


W
 ith the trade ministers from the 148-member World Trade Organization (WTO) scheduled to
meet in Hong Kong in December in an effort to jumpstart the Doha Round of trade liberalization
talks, textile and apparel manufacturers, importers, farmers and their governments throughout the
world are staking out their positions. Everyone involved admits it’s going to be a rough road to
success.

The United States has been playing a leading role in promoting the Doha Round, which started
back in 2001. Government officials believe the talks must be concluded in 2006 if they are to
succeed.

In a recent speech, President George W. Bush said, “The United States is ready to eliminate
tariffs, subsidies and other barriers to free flow of goods and services as other nations do the
same.” The difficulties surrounding the “do the same” and Bush’s ability to sell the US commitment
to Congress will bring global trade issues to the forefront throughout next year.

A recent analysis by the US Trade Representative (USTR) found US agriculture tariffs average
12 percent, while the global level is 62 percent. Ninety percent of imports from developing
countries enter the United States duty-free.

In the manufacturing sector, US tariffs average 3 percent, while tariffs for other WTO
members average 30 percent. In the area of non-tariff barriers, the USTR reported the United States
will seek to eliminate “market-distorting practices such as subsidies and make trade remedy
proceedings open and transparent.”


Agricultural Issues


The biggest obstacles standing in the way of success are agricultural issues where rich and
poor nations are at odds, and the US cotton industry is right in the middle of it all. The WTO
already has ruled the subsidies paid to textile mills and cotton merchants under Step 2 of the
Cotton Competitiveness Program are illegal, and they likely will be phased out at the end of the
current marketing year.

As USTR Rob Portman has promised sharp cuts in US farm subsidies to inject new life into the
Doha Round, the National Cotton Council (NCC), Memphis, Tenn., is insisting the United States
shouldn’t agree to dramatic cuts in domestic supports unless there are assurances the United States
will achieve “significant market access” for farm products in return.

The NCC also said US textile and apparel exports should enjoy the same market access
textile-exporting countries enjoy in the US market.


Textile And Apparel Issues


Textile and apparel manufacturers have a vital stake in the outcome of the Doha Round. Major
issues are reciprocal tariff reductions, reduction or elimination of non-tariff barriers, and how
to address market disruption stemming from what developed countries contend are illegal trade
practices. The emergence of China as a dominant exporter following the abolition of import quotas
at the beginning of this year has sent shock waves throughout the world’s textile manufacturing
nations. As the Doha Round negotiations move forward, US textile manufacturers are seeking
reciprocity in tariff reductions. They point out that while US textile and apparel tariffs average
14 percent, many countries have higher tariffs and more restrictive non-tariff barriers. Domestic
manufacturers want tariffs in other countries brought down before the United States makes further
concessions.

The three-year bilateral agreement with China imposing quotas on 34 “sensitive” product
categories will likely have a significant restraining effect on the growth of Chinese imports in
those categories, and while importers do not like quotas, they say in this case the bilateral is
preferable to the uncertainty resulting from the extensive use of safeguard quotas. However, the
door is left open for using the safeguard procedure to impose additional quotas on Chinese imports,
and US textile and apparel manufacturers will continue to pursue a permanent safeguard mechanism in
the Doha Round that could be used against any country’s imports when it can be demonstrated that
they are disrupting or threatening to disrupt markets.

With the current safeguard authority that has been used extensively by the US government due
to expire in 2008, domestic textile manufacturers want something else in place, because proposed
tariff cuts would make the US market more vulnerable than ever.

The US industry says the WTO needs to look at non-tariff barriers as well, identifying the
worst offenders and taking measures to open their markets to imports. In addition, US textile
manufacturers are strongly opposed to anything that would weaken its ability to use antidumping and
countervailing duty laws to remedy the impact of imports.

As negotiations move forward, a coalition of US and more than 90 textile and apparel trade
groups from 55 countries is pressing for sectoral negotiations that would have textile issues
addressed apart from other products. They fear that without sectoral negotiations, textiles and
apparel could become a bargaining chit traded for concessions in other areas.

At a recent meeting, the 97 members of the Global Alliance for Fair Textile Trade (GAFTT)
called on governments around the world to insist that textile issues be addressed in what it called
a Special Textile Sectoral (STS). The GAFTT members said a STS would allow WTO members to deal with
tariffs, non-tariff barriers and other concerns in a “comprehensive manner” in order to achieve
what they called “an orderly and fair long-term development of trade in this critical sector.” They
also said the elimination of quotas earlier this year caused a “shock to the world trading system
that must not be ignored at a time when new textile trade rules are being negotiated in the Doha
Round.”


Textile Importers


The National Retail Federation (NRF), Washington, has a broad agenda for the Doha Round that
calls for liberalization with regard to farm products, services and manufactured consumer goods.
With respect to textiles and apparel, the federation wants to see “substantial cuts” in duties and
elimination of non-tariff barriers here and abroad.

Retailers are opposed to any effort by US textile manufacturers to reimpose quotas, and they
believe there is little WTO membership support for quotas.

Eric Autor, NRF’s vice president and international trade counsel, said quotas would roll
back the very trade liberalization that the Doha negotiations are all about. NRF sees a need for
harmonizing customs rules in order to create freer market access, and it wants more freedom to open
establishments overseas. The federation also would like to see changes in antidumping and
countervailing procedures that would permit retailers and other consumers to have standing in the
procedures, something that is denied to them at present.

The US Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USAITA), New York City, supports
tariff reductions – to zero for the lower tariffs, and meaningful reductions in the higher ones –
and is strongly opposed to any effort to reinstate quotas. USAITA’s International Trade Vice
President Julia Hughes said she cannot see any consensus in favor of any continuation of quotas.
With respect to tariffs, she pointed out that while some tariffs need to be reduced across the
board, elimination of tariffs would negate the advantages enjoyed by countries that currently have
free trade agreements with the United States. She said her members are interested in
“trade-facilitation efforts” under consideration in the Doha Round. These efforts are designed to
harmonize customs regulations in overseas countries that today restrict and complicate market
access.

In addition, USAITA members are opposed to sectoral negotiations. They say that in the past,
these negotiations resulted in special treatment for textile trade that can no longer be justified.

Pointing out that US-branded textiles, apparel and footwear are often kept out of markets by
high tariffs and persistent non-tariff barriers, Kevin Burke, president of the Arlington, Va.-based
American Apparel and Footwear Association, sees the Doha Round as “the best shot to get harmful
trade practices reduced and eliminated.”

burke_Copy
Kevin Burke, president, AAFA


Congress’s Role


A final complicating factor is where Congress will eventually come down on whatever is
negotiated. Until 2007, the president has Trade Promotion Authority, whereby Congress can only
approve or reject trade agreements without amending them.

The highly sensitive agricultural issues, the recent close call on the passage of the
Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement and China’s emergence as a dominant trade
force in a number of industrial and consumer areas make the outlook for final approval of any Doha
Round agreements cloudy at best.

November/December 2005

Dow Offers First Chlorine Proof Fiber

Dow Fiber Solutions, Midland, Mich.,
has introduced DOW XLA CP™, the first-ever inherently Chlorine Proof™ stretch fiber.

It is the first olefin-based elastic fiber that is naturally resistant to harsh chemicals,
high heat and ultraviolet light — properties that make it suitable for competitive and recreational
swimwear.


fw



The fiber survived chlorine exposure after 1,000-plus hours of testing at 3.5 parts per
million of chlorine at room temperature.

“[W]ith the large and expanding number of recreational and competitive swimmers in the
United States and Europe, there is a growing demand for superior performance in swimwear fiber,”
said Brad Miller, commercial director, Dow Fiber Solutions. “The performance benefits of Dow XLA CP
fiber far exceed those of its competitors, which is why Dow XLA CP fiber’s role in the swimwear
category is so important.”

November/December 2005

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