Cambodia, Vietnam Imports Fall in February

WASHINGTON — Apparel imports from Cambodia fell more than 20 percent in February as worker strikes and political instability appeared to impact shipments, while imports from Vietnam fell for the first time in more than two years, the Commerce Department’s trade report showed Thursday. The report also reflected that a resurgence in Western Hemisphere manufacturing appears to be benefiting Central American countries, some of which posted strong increases in imports to the U.S. in February. While the West Coast ports dispute that caused delays and congestion into late February impacted imports Asia, other factors were also at play. Combined apparel and textile imports from the world to the U.S. rose 0.2 percent to 4.3 billion square meter equivalents in February compared with a year earlier. Apparel imports inched up 0.15 percent to 1.98 billion SME, while textile imports rose 0.2 percent to 2.3 billion SME. Apparel imports from Cambodia fell 20.2 percent to 73 million SME in February compared with a year earlier, while apparel imports from Vietnam dipped 1.5 percent to 222 million SME. The decline from Vietnam was the first monthly falloff since September 2012, according to data provided by International Development Systems. “The very logical and likely explanation for the decline

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