Democrats Call ForTextile Trade SummitAll of the top leaders of the Democrats in Congress have
called on President Bush to convene a major summit to discuss ways to deal with the impact of the
removal of textile and apparel quotas by January 2005. A letter to the president outlining their
concerns about what will happen to the US textile industry in a quota-free world was signed by nine
of the Democratic leaders, including Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Charles Rangel, the
Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee; and Sander M. Levin, ranking Democrat on
the Subcommittee on Trade. In part, the letter said: Textile and apparel trade patterns worldwide
are likely to undergo a profound transformation after January 1, 2005, when quotas ill be
eliminated.. This shift is likely to have critical consequences for economic development abroad, as
well as crucial economic implications for American business and workers and important national
security implications for the United States. The letter calls for a comprehensive strategy to
promote positive outcomes and minimize adverse impacts both here and around the world.The
Democratic leaders said the summit should include all significant interests in the United States
and all global actors that may be able to play a role in a solution of problems. This would include
international development institutions and financing agencies, officials of the World Trade
Organization and representatives from key textile and apparel producing nations. By James A.
Morrissey, Washington Correspondent
December 2003

Consumer Agency Proposes Upholstery Fabric StandardThe Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
has unanimously voted to expand its flammable fabrics regulations to develop a standard for
upholstery fabric, which for the first time would focus on the role of cigarettes and small open
flame sources such as candles, lighters and matches in household fires. In making the announcement,
Chairman Hal Stratton said new technologies and better cooperation from industry make the
development of such a standard viable. While upholstery fabric manufacturers have long sought such
a standard, any attempt to point the finger at cigarettes has been strongly resisted by the tobacco
industry. A notice of the proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register in order to
receive comments before the commission will act on a final standard. The standard will apply to
imports as well as domestic products.While there has been a voluntary standard for cigarette
ignition resistance for some time, and most upholstered fabric meets that standard, there has been
no mandatory standard for addressing open flame ignition. At a Sept. 24 public meeting held by the
CPSC, industry representatives voiced strong support for a mandatory standard covering both
cigarettes and open flames. Commissioner Thomas Moore said he hopes the commissions action will
help reduce what he says is the still large proportion of fire losses resulting from cigarette
ignition of furniture. He said he hopes the commissions action will expedite the process of
adopting mandatory standard for furniture flammability.The proposal has the strong support of the
National Association of State Fire Marshals.By James A. Morrissey, Washington Correspondent
November 2003