Japan's textile manufacturers say import curbs on towels will be in
consumers' interests

Japan's textile industry and textiles-producing districts are being
threatened by a flood of imports of cheaper products, especially from other
Asian countries.

Sakurai Masaki, Japan Textile Federation Standing Committee member, in an
interview published in Akahata on November 29 said that Japan's government
should invoke safeguards for the protection of the towel industry.

"We are only proposing safeguards against foreign textile products for
three years to give the towel industry time to prepare effective
countermeasures," he said.

Sakurai said that Japan's towel industry has a high level of technology
and planning capability so that it can provide a variety of products which
meet consumers' needs. Not all consumers want cheaper products and it will
be to their benefit if there are still domestically produced towels, he
said.

Japan's textile producing technology is so good, he said, that 300,000
meters of cloth can be woven and dyed with a completely identical color and
touch.

"Such a manufacturing industry with the best technology in the world must
be protected. Every WTO member has a right to invoke safeguards under the
international rules," said Sakurai.

"Make no mistake. Japan's textile industry is not on the decline."
Sakurai went on to explain that high polymer technology for synthetic
fibers, reinforcement of fibers with antibacterial functionality and other
high technologies are also applied to aeronautical engineering, electronics,
medical instruments and space development.

The U.S. government is well aware of the important role of the textile
industry, and therefore protects its domestic textile industry with various
measures including safeguards, anti-dumping procedures and its own quota
systems.

Sakurai stressed, "We don't call for special protectionist measures for
Japan's trade. We only want the same level of mechanisms, as provided in the
United States and Europe."

He emphasized that he wants Japan's politicians, the government, and
people to understand that Japan's excellent manufacturing industries and
technologies, including textiles, should be protected. (end)