TRADE

U.S. Penalizes China for Textile Shipments: The U.S. slapped a $19-million charge on China for shipping textile products in violation of a 1994 trade accord. The penalty, announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, was levied after the U.S. Customs Service determined that China was attempting to circumvent textile export quotas by shipping more than 2 million garments to the U.S. through seven countries. The action brings to $80 million the charges levied against China by the United States. It is the third time the administration has levied penalties under the 1994 accord but the first time it has applied triple charges, which are reserved for repeat violations.