Government files appeal in textiles safeguard case

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/16/2005 12:26:00 PM

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government filed an appeal asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to overturn the injunction on threat-based China safeguard petitions issued by the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT).

The government also asked the appeals court to remand the case to the CIT with instructions to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel.

Last week, the U.S. government filed separate motions with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to stay the injunction issued by the CIT and approve an expedited calendar for consideration of the full appeal filed this week.

The importer's association has argued that international trade agreements do not provide for pre-emptive safeguard attempts. It was reacting to safeguard petitions filed late last year by the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, which sought to cap imports of several apparel categories.