24/7talk Interior Design

Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congressman Michael McNulty Tuesday introduced legislation in both chambers of Congress that would close a trade loophole that has allowed China to circumvent a quota on textile window blinds. The bill would keep companies like Comfortex a New York upstate based Window Shade Manufacturer from suffering further as a result of Chinese manufacturers using unfair trade practices and circumventing the quota loophole.
The way it goes at the moment is that the Chinese manufacturers can purchase fabric in Taiwan, ship it to China where the rest of the shade is finished. The fabric is folded, pleated, and glued into “cellular” or “honeycomb” shapes, attached to the Top and Bottom Rail connected with cords to lower or raise the shade. These all takes place in China. The finished window blinds and shades are then shipped to the United States as “Products of Taiwan.“ This allows the merchandise to completely circumvent the quota on Chinese textile window blinds and shades at a price which is cheaper than a local retailer can buy from Comfortex.