The probe was requested by the US trade representative (USTR) last December.

USITC will prepare a public report that will provide a comparison of the relative US market shares held by these nations at present and five and ten years ago. It will analyse changing patterns in market shares and trade, including against other top suppliers, noting any significant shifts.

The report will offer country-specific profiles of the apparel industries in the countries, including information on investment, vertical integration, duty-free access to the US market, wages and labour productivity and sourcing of inputs.

It will assess the export competitiveness of each country in the US market considering major factors like trade, industry structure, price and costs, product differentiation and reliability, USITC said in a release.

The report is expected to be submitted to the USTR by August 30 this year.

USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation on March 7.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)