US and Philippines ink deal to combat illegal shipment of textiles

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — The United States and the Philippines signed a pact to fight illegal transshipments of textiles and clothing through the Philippines.

"This Memorandum of Understanding will help safeguard and promote legitimate textile trade between our two countries, while stopping illegal textile transshipments," said US Trade Representative Susan Schwab in a statement.

"Today's agreement demonstrates how the US and the Philippines are committed to working together to strengthen our trading relationships," she added.

Schwab, who arrived in Malaysia Wednesday, signed the agreement while Manila was represented by its trade and industry secretary Peter Favila.

The pact provides for customs cooperation, identification of the actual textiles and...