Textiles and Apparel Imports Trade Group Seeks Industry Input on CEEs
The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) asked its members to take part in an industry survey to help CBP prepare for a Center of Excellence & Expertise for Textile, Wearing Apparel & Footwear companies. USA-ITA is part of the Industry Working Group, along with other textile, apparel, footwear, and retail industry associations, to develop the objectives for the CEE, said USA-ITA. CBP is seeking industry feedback on the CEEs this summer. A survey for USA-ITA members is (here).
CBP is seeking key information from the textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (TWAF) industry that will help guide the agency on how best to set up the CEE. Specifically, CBP is seeking information on the following areas:
- Creating an overview of the TWAF industry;
- Identifying areas of risk within the TWAF industry;
- Recognizing opportunities for facilitation in the TWAF industry;
- Developing industry metrics for the TWAF CEE; and
- Providing a recommendation for the TWAF CEE’s location.
(Locations of five CEEs scheduled to be completed by the end of FY 2013 haven't been finalized. The Textiles, Wearing Apparel and Footwear CEE was at one time pegged for Atlanta, but CBP more recently said the future locations aren't set. There are currently two CEEs, one for Electronics in Long Beach, Calif., and one for Pharmaceuticals in New York City, and CBP recently announced plans for two more CEEs, an Automotive and Aerospace center in Detroit and a Petroleum, Natural Gas and Minerals center in Houston, by the end of FY 2012. See ITT's Online Archives 12051107 for summary of CEE plans. See ITT’s Online Archives 12052327 for summary of recent COAC discussion of the CEEs.)
Background CBP TWAF import data from FY2011 is (here).
According to the data, during FY 2011, TWAF industry imports were $131.3 billion total (about 5.85% of total U.S. import line value), with wearing apparel importations making up most of the industry: 64% (or $84 billion) was wearing apparel, while 19% (or $24.9 billion) was textiles (including home furnishings), and 17% (or $22.3 billion) was footwear. USA-ITA said the industry faces the most significant duty rates of any industry, and during FY 2011, 48% (or $14 billion) of all duties collected by CBP were TWAF industry imports. The top five four-digit TWAF HTS#s by value during FY 2011 were:
- HTS 6110 sweaters, pullovers, vests, etc. ($14.5 billion import line value, or 11% of industry total, $2.1 billion duties),
- HTS 6403 footwear ($11.3 billion import line value, or 8.6% of industry total, $987 million duties),
- HTS 6204 women's or girl's suits ($10.9 billion import line value, or 8.3% of industry total, $1.4 billion duties),
- HTS 6203 men's or boy's suits ($8.1 billion import line value, or 6.1% of industry total, $971 million duties), and
- HTS 6402 footwear ($6.2 billion import line value, or 4.7% of industry total, $599 million duties).