In an official notice expected to be published in next Tuesday's Federal Register, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements determined that ski and snowboard pants do not contribute to market disruption. CITA directed US Customs to release all ski and snowboard pants from the current embargo beginning November 1st.

Frank Hugelmeyer, President of Outdoor Industry Association, released the following statement today in response to a decision by the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) to exempt ski and snowpants from the current embargo on textile products manufactured in China.

“We applaud CITA’s decision to carve out ski and snowpants from the current embargo on textiles manufactured in China,” notes Hugelmeyer. “This deal represents a sensible approach on being tough with China. There is minimal domestic production of ski and snowpants, leaving few alternatives to China for producing these products. This exemption will lessen the significant negative impact the embargo has had on our industry.”

“While CITA’s decision solves a big problem for the outdoor industry for 2005, there are more potential quotas on the horizon. The possibilities of jacket quotas and the re-application of quotas on ski and snowpants for 2006 are currently being considered by CITA with comments due on November 10, 2005. Should these quotas be enforced, they could potentially be devastating to the outdoor industry.”