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November 7, 2005 8:45 AM, EST

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he United States and China have reached a tentative agreement to limit imports of Chinese clothing and textile products into the United States, the Associated Press reported.

U.S. textile and clothing companies and their labor unions have been pushing for a comprehensive deal to stem a flood of Chinese imports that began last January when global quotas, in place for more than three decades, were lifted, AP said, citing U.S. trade officials.

The tentative agreement would allow for imports of most clothing and textile categories covered by the deal to increase by 8% to 10% next year, by about 13% in 2007 and about 17% in 2008, AP reported.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been announced, said it could be signed as early as Tuesday when U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and Chinese officials will be in Geneva, AP said.