US, China may not reach textile deal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-26 07:10

Trouser decision delayed

After the interview, the Bush administration announced it needed nine more days, or until July 31, to consider a request for import restrictions on wool trousers from China.

It was the second time in two weeks the Bush administration delayed a decision on a request for curbs.

The White House has been struggling to round up support for a free-trade agreement with Central America, which faces opposition from many textile-state lawmakers.

With the House set to vote next week on that pact, the delay appears to give the White House some leverage in winning over textile-state support.

Gutierrez insisted any decision on additional import curbs would not be influenced by the timing of the vote on the U.S. Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA.

"We're going to look at each case on its merit. We're not going to move the timing around based on anything else," Gutierrez said.