Textiles: Sept. 24, 2001

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has joined the final debate over the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI); the issue concerns whether goods can be dyed and finished in countries in the CBI region and still qualify for duty-free status; the NRF issued a statement urging for goods to be allowed to be dyed and finished in CBI countries and for the elimination of all quotas on T-shirts imported from the CBI region... Greenville, S.C.-based JPS Apparel Fabrics will shutter its doors at its remaining two plants in Greenville and Laurens, S.C., at the end of the month, laying off 534 employees; the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June.