Leahy, Jeffords Lead Successful Effort To Exempt Ski Pants From Quota

Exemption Benefits Vermont Ski Industry, Tourists

WASHINGTON (THURSDAY, Oct. 27) – Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Commerce will exempt ski pants from the quota now applied to synthetic pants imported from China.  The exemption will allow Vermont ski distributors and retailers to provide advanced, high-quality gear no longer made in the United States to skiers in Vermont during the approaching season.

The Vermont Senators led a bipartisan effort to urge the Administration to exempt ski pants from the U.S.-imposed quota on apparel and textile goods imported from China.  No domestic manufacturers currently produce this advanced skiwear, and the senators noted that the quota created substantial supply problems for the snow sports industry.  The quotas, which are designed to protect American firms from potentially unfair international competition, actually only served to hurt American ski gear distributors.  The Committee on the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), a division of the Commerce Department, responded to the senators’ efforts by announcing Thursday that ski pants will be exempt from the quota that applies to “man-made fiber trousers.”

“We began this effort in July when the sun was high in the sky and the days were warm, but we knew it was a problem that needed to be solved for Vermont ski retailers before skiers hit the slopes,” said Leahy.  “It’s fitting that this decision came the day after our first significant snowfall, because folks are not only thinking about their snow tires but also their snow apparel.  This is a victory for Vermont businesses and Vermont tourism.”

“This is great news for Vermont businesses as the ski season approaches and Vermonters and tourists alike look to stay warm and dry as they enjoy our winter weather,” said Jeffords. “I am pleased the Commerce Department has recognized the importance of this exemption to the ski industry both in Vermont and throughout the country.”

Leahy and Jeffords, who were joined by Sens. Judd Gregg (R- N.H.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in their efforts, first wrote to the Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez in July expressing concern about the problems the quotas created for the ski industry, and again in September urging the exemption.

Quotas impose legal limits on the amount of a product that can be imported, and are intended to help domestic manufacturers.  However, some products, such as ski pants, have a limited domestic market, and supplies are only filled by overseas manufacturers.  The exemption becomes effective November 1.

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