Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA2918
2006-09-28 12:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
THE TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR IN AUSTRIA
how-tonull Dayna R Robison 09/29/2006 11:02:38 AM From DB/Inbox: Dayna R Robison Cable Text: UNCLAS VIENNA 02918 SIPDIS CXVIENNA: ACTION: POLEC INFO: REVIEW PAO DCM AMB DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: ECONPOL:PRNELSON DRAFTED: ECONPOL:ASCHRATT EC CLEARED: NONE VZCZCVII714 RR RUEHC RUCPDOC RUEHGV RUCNMEM RUEHBS DE RUEHVI #2918 2711205 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 281205Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5092 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1346 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS VIENNA 002918
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT THOMAS LERSTEN
USDOC FOR ITA/OTEXA MARIA D'ANDREA
STATE PASS USTR FOR ABIOLA HEYLIGER
GENEVA FOR USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KTEX AU
SUBJECT: THE TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR IN AUSTRIA
REF: STATE 138090
UNCLAS VIENNA 002918
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT THOMAS LERSTEN
USDOC FOR ITA/OTEXA MARIA D'ANDREA
STATE PASS USTR FOR ABIOLA HEYLIGER
GENEVA FOR USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KTEX AU
SUBJECT: THE TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR IN AUSTRIA
REF: STATE 138090
1. Following is 2005 data for Austria (1 EUR = $1.24) keyed to
reftel request:
-- Total industrial production: $55.2 billion
-- Total textile and apparel production: $4.6 billion (textiles:
$3.2 billion; apparel: $1.4 billion)
-- Textiles share of Austria's imports/exports: 1.8%/2.0%
-- Apparel share of Austria's imports/exports: 4.5%/2.5%
-- Exports in textiles to the U.S.: $47.6 million
-- Exports in apparels to the U.S.: $85.5 million
-- Total employment in manufacturing: 529,000
-- Total employment in textiles and apparel sector: 24,000 (textiles
15,000; apparel 9,000).
2. Embassy discussed the situation of the Austrian textiles and
apparel industry with representatives from both sectors. Industry's
reaction to heightened international competition has been to
increase competitiveness by moving to higher value-added goods and
to invest in innovation and modernization. 50% of the textiles
production goes into the "functional" textiles sector such as
automobile seat covers or highly specialized products. The apparel
sector has been investing in high-quality clothes, thus avoiding
direct competition with inexpensive Chinese apparel.
3. Sales have decreased slowly, but steadily, over the last 5-7
years. Austria exports approximately three-quarters of its
production. Employment in the sector slumped sharply from 39,000 in
2001 to 24,000 in 2005.
4. Industry representatives have voiced concerns about "unfair trade
practices", "illegal government subsidies", and "low wages and
social standards" in China. Industry agrees with the EU's decision
to set import quotas for apparel effective through 2008. Industry
told us, however, that support for restrictions on apparel and
textiles imports from Asia is gradually declining within the EU.
McCaw
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT THOMAS LERSTEN
USDOC FOR ITA/OTEXA MARIA D'ANDREA
STATE PASS USTR FOR ABIOLA HEYLIGER
GENEVA FOR USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KTEX AU
SUBJECT: THE TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR IN AUSTRIA
REF: STATE 138090
1. Following is 2005 data for Austria (1 EUR = $1.24) keyed to
reftel request:
-- Total industrial production: $55.2 billion
-- Total textile and apparel production: $4.6 billion (textiles:
$3.2 billion; apparel: $1.4 billion)
-- Textiles share of Austria's imports/exports: 1.8%/2.0%
-- Apparel share of Austria's imports/exports: 4.5%/2.5%
-- Exports in textiles to the U.S.: $47.6 million
-- Exports in apparels to the U.S.: $85.5 million
-- Total employment in manufacturing: 529,000
-- Total employment in textiles and apparel sector: 24,000 (textiles
15,000; apparel 9,000).
2. Embassy discussed the situation of the Austrian textiles and
apparel industry with representatives from both sectors. Industry's
reaction to heightened international competition has been to
increase competitiveness by moving to higher value-added goods and
to invest in innovation and modernization. 50% of the textiles
production goes into the "functional" textiles sector such as
automobile seat covers or highly specialized products. The apparel
sector has been investing in high-quality clothes, thus avoiding
direct competition with inexpensive Chinese apparel.
3. Sales have decreased slowly, but steadily, over the last 5-7
years. Austria exports approximately three-quarters of its
production. Employment in the sector slumped sharply from 39,000 in
2001 to 24,000 in 2005.
4. Industry representatives have voiced concerns about "unfair trade
practices", "illegal government subsidies", and "low wages and
social standards" in China. Industry agrees with the EU's decision
to set import quotas for apparel effective through 2008. Industry
told us, however, that support for restrictions on apparel and
textiles imports from Asia is gradually declining within the EU.
McCaw