ARS | Publication request: CHINESE COTTON STANDARDS: SRRC RESEARCH ACTING TO SUPPORT AMERICAN COTTON THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 23, 2003
Publication Date: April 4, 2004
Citation: Campbell, J.H., Thibodeaux, D.P., Bel, P., Cui, X. 2004. Chinese cotton standards: srrc research acting to support american cotton the world trade organization. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference.

Technical Abstract: In 2002, the Chinese government informed the World Trade Organization (WTO) that "Short Fiber Content (SFC) and Nep Count are included in the quality requirements of the national standard," and specified the standards currently in place in China would be used. According to a Farm Press news report, foreign cotton suppliers would be required to submit certificates attesting that the cotton cargo had passed the two tests before being unloaded at the Chinese ports. The original proposed effective date of enforcement of these standards was April 1, 2003. Because United States producers were unfamiliar with these methods, the Agricultural Research and Marketing Services were tasked with examining the accuracy of the tests and feasibility of implementation of these standards.