International News Items - February 2005

Sri Lanka’s Clothing Gets EU Duty-free Access

January 14, 2005 (Emerging Textiles) – Apparel from a series of Asian countries could be offered a reduction in EU and US tariffs after the tsunami devastated parts of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand and Maldives Islands at the end of last month. EU could accelerate implementation of its new GSP schemes that will offer relaxed rules of origin to clothing exporters in a large number of developing nations. A bill will also be introduced in the US Congress in early February requesting a duty-free access to the US market for a series of Asian countries, including Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Although textile and apparel industries were not affected by the tsunami that devastated parts of Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Indonesia by the end of December, voices are now being heard asking the US and the EU to reduce import duties on clothing from a series of Asian nations.

Already weakened by elimination of textile quotas this year, economies of Asian countries would need some boost to overcome the impact of the tsunami on various sectors, mainly tourism.

EU's Commission already announced that apparel from Sri Lanka will be granted a duty-free access when the new GSP schemes will be effective.

The duty-free treatment will be offered under the new GSP-+ scheme that is reserved for vulnerable countries that signed a large number of conventions related to labor and environmental standards.
"Under the new system, Sri Lanka will receive duty-free access to the EU for almost all its GSP exports including on its vital textile and clothing exports," said new EU's Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in a statement last Tuesday.

The effective duty-free access will actually depend on EU's rules of origin. Mandelson confirmed thar rules of origin will be relaxed for all new schemes, including the possibility to import fabrics from more countries. Implementation of the new GSP system could be accelerated, he added. The move to the new schemes was initially planned for 1 July 2005.

In the United States, pressure is growing to offer trade preferences to tsunami-affected countries. As a result, Sri Lanka and Indonesia could be added to a list of Asian countries that could be offered a duty-free access to the United States.

A bill known as the Least Developed Economies Economic Development Act (LDEEDA) could be introduced in the US Senate on February 2nd, said the Bangladeshi Garment Manufacturers Association (BGMEA).

Due to strong opposition from US textile industry associations, however, the bill is not expected to be rapidly approved by the US Congress.

Obsessive Trainspotter Caught With 10,000 Stolen Uniforms

Kobe, Japan, September 26, 2004 (Mainichi Daily News) - A man who was arrested for stealing pairs of trousers from a railway office has admitted that his passion for trains and planes had driven him to rob railway and airline facilities of some 10,000 uniforms over the last 15 years, police said.

Kenji Hishida, an unemployed man from Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, was arrested on Sept. 6 for stealing two pairs of trousers from a West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) facility in Aakashi, Hyogo Prefecture.

"I have been stealing uniforms from offices of JR and other railways, and airline companies since about 15 years ago," officers quoted Hishida, 39, as saying after they arrested him at the scene of the crime.
Hishida, who is obsessed with trains and airplanes, stole almost 10,000 uniforms over the period, he told officers.

Hishida wore some of the uniforms he had stolen to enter railway facilities where he said he "was able to get a look at trains from close range," according to police.

When officers raided Hishida's apartment in Izumisano, they found an extraordinary number of uniforms and other items of clothing, an amount officers said even a two-ton truck could not carry.

Japan-Based Sailors Testing New Uniforms

Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan , January 17, 2005 (Stars & Stripes, as reported by Jim O’Donnell) - For many service members, little inspires more dread than the voice of a superior officer beckoning them to stand “front and center” for a lecture on uniform standards.

But deviating from those standards is part of the job until later this year for 100 Yokosuka sailors — from Commander Fleet Activities Japan and Commander Naval Forces Japan — who are wear-testing four new uniforms for the chief of Naval Operations’ Task Force Uniform initiative.
Along with other volunteers from Naval bases worldwide, the Yokosuka sailors will report their likes, dislikes or comments they get from fellow sailors about the uniforms, according to Chief Petty Officer Deborah Simmons, a military representative for the task force.

Simmons was at Yokosuka’s Fleet Recreation Center on Friday morning, with members of the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, to distribute the uniforms for the six-month test period.

The Navy is testing two variants: one service and one working uniform. Yokosuka is testing the service variant, while Atsugi Naval Air Facility is testing the working variant, a blue and gray camouflage uniform sailors received Tuesday.

Last week’s uniform distributions were part of a process that began more than a year ago in response to concerns from sailors about uniform regulations and requirements, a Navy news release stated. In 2003, a survey of more than 40,000 Navy personnel found that sailors E-6 and below were the Navy group least satisfied with their current service uniforms. Some reasons given for the dissatisfaction included perceived impracticality of white uniforms, unflattering and non-functional designs, unprofessional appearance in comparison to other services and requirements for seasonal change.

The current Navy service uniforms for sailors E-6 and below feature an all-white, short-sleeved shirt worn during summer months and an all-black, long-sleeved shirt for winter. The test uniforms the Yokosuka sailors received to wear instead are designed to be worn year-round.

The sailors received four uniform sets, designated A, B, C and D. Shirts in each set are either khaki or gray, and have rank insignia either sewn on or pinned to the collar. Men received four pairs of navy-blue pants, while women received two pairs of pants and two skirts.

Wear-test participants also received an identification card to be carried whenever they are in the new uniforms as proof they are participating in the task force tests and a guide with photos and descriptions of how the variables may be put together. The guide gives the sailors specific instructions on care and contains a schedule of which uniform set to wear each day, said Donna Zlotnick, a senior clothing designer at the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility.

“The user guide gives them everything from uniform configurations to pictures on how the uniforms look,” Zlotnick said. The schedule — in calendar form — helps ensure the sets get even wear, she said.
“I personally think it is an exciting time,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Greg Vidaurri, a Navy Career Counselor and Yokosuka’s point man for the task force. “We have about 229 years of history in our uniforms right now,” and a multitude of uniforms, he said. “By having one service uniform you can wear year-round, I think it will cut down on space, time and maintenance.”

Designer Zlotnick predicted that most of the participating Yokosuka sailors would be wearing the test uniforms by the end of the month.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Tomika Halloway said she’s looking forward to wearing her test sets, adding that she especially likes that the new female overblouse is not tucked in.

“The uniforms are really nice, I feel more feminine in them [not]having to worry about tucking your shirt in,” she said. Her favorite variation, she added, is the khaki shirt with collar insignia. “You don’t have to worry about changing patches every time you advance,” said Halloway. “You can just change collar devices, it’s more convenient.”

Task Force Uniform representative Simmons dismisses criticism that the new service uniforms look too much like the Marine Corps uniform or too much like the current utility uniform.

“Don’t pre-judge the uniform until you see the sailors in them,” she advised. “See the people in them, talk to them, see how they feel.”

Bangladeshi Goods : Bill in US Congress by Feb 2

Bangladesh, January 13, 2005 (The New Nation) - Bangladesh is going to move a bill in the American Congress by February 2 seeking duty-free access of products from Bangladesh and 13 other least developed countries to the US market.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association-appointed lobbyist in the United States would submit the bill titled "Least Developed Economies' Economic Development (LDEED) Act.”

"It's a very hard task, but it'll never happen unless we start the process," BGMEA president Annisul Huq told UNB yesterday, apprising the latest developments concerning the initiative.

"The bill, if enacted, could bring about a revolution in the country's RMG industry," he said, informing that the bill seeks full duty waiver. The US charges 16 percent import duty on average on apparel items.

The US authorities have already awarded the market preference to 33 sub-Saharan and Caribbean countries out of 49 in the world's poor-country club (the group of LDCs).

Now, the apex trade body of Bangladesh's apparel industry is moving the bill for the rest of the countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Nepal Afghanistan and East Timor.

Bangladesh is the coordinator for the LDCs-the country's embassy in Washington has convened two meetings with the envoys of the other countries to mobilize their support for the legislative move.

Meanwhile, the BGMEA president yesterday met Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury apparently in an ice-melting session following the appointment of an administrator to the BGMEA by the government.

The minister was briefed about the bill and the present situation of the apparel industry, Annis said.

He apprised the minister that US President George W Bush is likely to visit India by the middle of this year and explained the importance of a Bush trip to Bangladesh if possible to make it happen during that time.

He offered help of the BGMEA lobbyist in the USA to try to bring him in Dhaka.

Recently, the Finance Minister also assured them of government cooperation in this regard, he said. He also stressed the need for the Prime Minister's cooperation.

Replying to a question, the BGMEA president said the Commerce Minister assured them that the tussle between the government and the BGMEA over administrator appointment would be removed.

The Minister also assured BGMEA of "all government cooperation for the growth of the industry", he said.

Replying to another question, he expressed the hope that the BGMEA election slated for February 17 would be held as scheduled.