The effect of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) on the US economy, imports, industry and consumers is negligible, while that on beneficiary nations is small but positive, according to a US government agency, which said CBERA provisions for Haiti have had a strong, positive effect on export earnings and job creation in the apparel sector there. The US International Trade Commission (USITC), an independent, non-partisan, fact-finding federal agency, recently released its 24th biennial report monitoring US imports under CBERA for 2017-18. The CBERA program, operational since January 1, 1984, affords preferential tariff treatment to most products of the 17 designated Caribbean countries that received CBERA benefits during the period covered in the report. USITC identified two US industries—methanol and T-shirts—that most likely have faced negative effects due to competition from CBERA imports. US imports receiving preferential treatment under CBERA totalled $1.7 billion in 2018, an increase of 9.1 per cent from $1.5 billion in 2017. The value of US imports under CBERA declined between 2012 and 2016, but increased in both 2017 and 2018. The change was driven primarily by increasing imports of two products: methanol from Trinidad and Tobago, and apparel from Haiti. Petroleum-related products accounted for 29.9 per cent of imports under CBERA in 2018, with Trinidad and Tobago’s methanol supplying 89 per cent of such imports. Textiles and apparel, supplied mainly by Haiti, accounted for 56 per cent of US imports under CBERA in 2018, with cotton T-shirts supplying 30.1 per cent of those imports, according to an USITC press release. The future effect of CBERA on the US economy and domestic industries will likely remain small, the US agency said.

Egypt is adopting an integrated plan to improve the cotton and textile industries by learning from abroad, minister of public business sector Hisham Tawfik said recently. Twenty five cotton gins will be merged into 11, which will be ready within three years at triple the capacity, he told a symposium of the Egyptian Businessmen Association in Alexandria. Fourteen old cotton gins’ lands will be used to provide the required financing and to repay all the sector’s dues, he said. An export and central marketing unit will be set up under the Cotton and Textile Industries Holding Company to market the products of the company. EGP 700 million will be allocated to train workers and establish a new technical training centre, he added. The strategy will be fully implemented by 2022. The government plans to quadruple textile and garment exports by 2025.

Exports of a range of fashion and textile products from the UK to the US will be hit with a 25 per cent tariff as part of the ongoing dispute between the US and the EU over subsidies granted to both Boeing and Airbus. The list of products that will be facing a 25 per cent tariff includes cashmere jumpers, anoraks, swimwear, and bed linen.  The 25 per cent tariff is in addition to the normal duties which will apply. “The US has threatened to introduce the tariffs as early as October 17, 2019. It has been confirmed that these tariffs will apply even if the UK leaves the European Union with or without a deal,” UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) said in a statement. UKFT CEO Adam Mansell has called on both sides to resolve the 15-year old trade dispute as quickly as possible. “At a time when the industry is facing huge uncertainty over the impact of Brexit, it is devastating that one of our key non-EU markets has imposed such significant tariffs on products that have nothing to do with the aircraft dispute,” said Mansell. “Some of our leading manufacturers will be hit by theses punitive tariffs and that will undoubtedly affect jobs and investment.” Simon Cotton, chief executive of Johnstons of Elgin, the largest manufacturer cashmere knitwear in the UK, and a board member of UKFT, said these tariffs will have a significant impact on the UK knitwear industry. “The US is our third largest export market behind Europe and Japan,” he said. “This will have major impact on our knitwear business, as well as the whole of the UK knitwear industry. The US consumer has a great affinity with British high-quality knitwear and we urge all parties involved to come to an agreement quickly for the sake of British manufacturers and US consumers.” “The UK government is clear that resorting to tariffs is not in the interests of the UK, EU or US. We are working closely with the US, EU and European partners to support a negotiated settlement to the Airbus and Boeing disputes,” the UK department for international trade (DIT) said in a statement. “We are also seeking confirmation from the WTO that the UK has complied fully with WTO rulings regarding support to Airbus, and should not be subject to tariffs,” the DIT statement said.

Global business and branding solutions provider SML has launched EcoHanger which uses recycled chipboard aiming to eliminate over 50 per cent of plastic usage. SML’s EcoHanger is the latest product innovation in the EcoInspire collection which was launched earlier this year with a goal to inspire retailers with ecologically sound solutions. Currently EcoHanger, with patents pending, is undergoing pilots with US retailers. It is comprised of a plastic hook made from commonly used material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Its shoulders are constructed from at least 60 per cent recycled pulp fibre-based chipboard which can be easily attached to the plastic hook at the garment factory, said SML in a press release. The plastic hook, produced in several global locations from a widely available material that can be locally sourced in almost any location, has been designed to be recirculated and reused throughout its lifespan – reducing the volume of hanger produced globally each year and decreasing overall costs, waste and plastic usage. The hook can be detached at checkout and processed for recirculation whilst the chipboard can be processed for recycling. “Like all plastic waste, traditional hangers contribute significantly to the harmful chemicals that leach into our groundwater,” said Eric Rhyner, VP of print packaging solutions and sustainability at SML Group. “SML recognises the importance to change and improve processes and deliver sustainable solutions for retailers to reduce the impact that we are having on the planet.” “The development of our EcoHanger meets and exceeds retailer requirements in design, aesthetics, performance and innovation. With consumers and retailers becoming increasingly conscious of reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, there is a need to introduce options which are better for the environment, whilst optimising how we operate,” added Rhyner. The EcoHanger has passed GS1’s test standards, and in many cases outperforms conventional, all plastic hangers. With the launch of EcoHanger, SML will continue to innovate by further extending its EcoInspire collection to provide more sustainable and environmentally-smart solutions.

After showing a declining trend from 2013 to 2016, global cotton trade grew at CAGR of 20.38 per cent from $17.109 billion in 2016 to $24.795 billion in 2018, according to data from TexPro. Global cotton trade rose 14.95 per cent in 2018 over the previous year. It is anticipated to reach $34.538 billion in 2021 increasing at CAGR of 11.42 per cent from 2018. In terms of volume, the global cotton trade was 12.237 million tonnes in 2016, which increased to 12.651 million tonnes in 2018 with a CAGR of 1.8 per cent. The total trade volume gained 6.41 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017. It is anticipated to reach 14.398 million tonnes in 2021 with a CAGR of 4.10 per cent from 2018, according to Fibre2Fashion’s market analysis tool TexPro. In terms of value, the global cotton export was $9.025 billion in 2016, which increased to $13.548 billion in 2018 with a CAGR of 22.52 per cent. The overall cotton export moved up by 17.15 per cent in 2018 over the previous year. It is anticipated to reach $20.303 billion in 2021 with a CAGR of 14.44 per cent from 2018. Global cotton export, in terms of volume, was 7.397 million tonnes in 2016, which dropped by 4.69 per cent to 7.050 million tonnes in 2018. The overall cotton export rose by 8.00 per cent in 2018 over cotton export in 2017. It is expected to reach 8.683 million tonnes in 2021 with a CAGR of 7.19 per cent from 2018. In terms of value, the global cotton import was $8.084 billion in 2016 which grew at CAGR of 17.95 per cent to $11.246 billion in 2018. The overall cotton import jumped 12.40 per cent in 2018 over the previous year. It is anticipated to reach $14.234 billion in 2021 with a CAGR of 8.17 per cent from 2018. Global cotton import, in terms of volume, was 4.840 million tonnes in 2016, which rose at CAGR of 7.58 per cent to 5.601 million tonnes in 2018. The overall cotton import increased by 4.47 per cent in 2018 over the cotton import in 2017. It is forecast to grow marginally at CAGR of 0.67 per cent to 5.714 million tonnes in 2021 from 2018. In 2018, US (3,582.75 thousand tonnes), Indonesia (1,146.43 thousand tonnes), Brazil (915.54 thousand tonnes), Australia (478.77 thousand tonnes) and Greece (214.68 thousand tonnes) were the key exporters of cotton across the globe, together comprising 90 per cent of total exports. It was distantly followed by the Cote d Ivoire (165.31 thousand tonnes), Turkey (94.23 thousand tonnes), Argentina (90.96 thousand tonnes), Mexico (65.29 thousand tonnes) and Spain (61.80 thousand tonnes). From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by US (28.37 per cent) and Brazil (58.82 per cent). In value terms, US ($6,562.68 million), India ($2,234.28 million), Brazil ($1,587.34 million), Australia ($958.34 million), Greece ($396.75 million) and Cote d Ivoire ($288.64 million) were the key exporters of cotton across the globe in 2018, together comprising 88.77 per cent of total export. It was followed by Turkey ($176.57 million), Argentina ($144.89 million), Spain ($117.26 million) and Mexico ($105.14 million). From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export, amongst the main exporting countries, was shown by US (17.34 per cent), Brazil (43.49 per cent), Turkey (76.10 per cent) and Argentina (248.68 per cent). In 2018, China (1,572.87 thousand tonnes), Indonesia (758.78 thousand tonnes), Turkey (751.28 thousand tonnes), Pakistan (605.98 thousand tonnes) and India (270.34 thousand tonnes) were the key importers of cotton across the globe, together comprising 70.68 per cent of total imports. It was followed by Thailand (258.91 thousand tonnes), Mexico (198.74 thousand tonnes) and South Korea (197.11 thousand tonnes). From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import, amongst the main importing countries, was registered by Pakistan (61.28 per cent), India (56.82 per cent) and Indonesia (12.88 per cent). In value terms, China ($3,165.50 million), Indonesia ( $1,434.17 million), Turkey ($1,394.19 million), Pakistan ($1,098.40 million), India ($625.95 million) and Thailand ($522.96 million) were the key importers of cotton across the globe in 2018, together comprising 73.28 per cent of total import. It was followed by South Korea ($395.12 million), Mexico ($387.28 million), Malaysia ($332.65 million) and Taiwan ($253.95 million). From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by India (58.26 per cent) and Pakistan (42.40 per cent).

Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of $930 million with Japan in the first eight months of 2019. In the same period last year, its trade deficit with Japan was $114 million. A 9.3 per cent growth in exports to Japan was a key factor behind this. Three commodities with an export turnover of more than $1 billion to Japan included garment-textiles ($2.55 billion). Shipments of 26 out of 35 main export items to Japan witnessed a rise, according to a Vietnamese newspaper report. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s imports from Japan rose by a mere 0.7 per cent in the period. The country is expected to have a trade surplus of over $1.4 billion with Japan for the entire year.