CHARLOTTE -- Limits on Chinese textile imports to the United States will expire at the end of the year, causing officials at North Carolina textile firms to worry about competing with a government-subsidized industry.
North Carolina's textile industry has taken a blow from imports. The state had 173,100 textile and apparel jobs in 2000. That number dropped to 58,600 this year.
Officials said they worried that what happened in 2005 when import limits were lifted temporarily could happen again. The U.S. textile industry lost about 55,000 jobs in 2005 after China flooded the market with cheaper goods.
"If we lost 50,000 jobs the first time the quotas were lifted, we are concerned it can be just as bad this time," said Auggie Tantillo of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition.
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