China moves toward monopolizing non-quota apparel categories in both US & EU
04 Mar '06
8 min read
A little bit about NCTO and the US textile industry. NCTO was formed two years ago as part of a merger of ATMI and AYSA and we represent the U.S. textile industry in the United States. I am pleased also to say that, as Mr. Tantillo will explain, we are part of a much larger U.S. textile-cotton-fiber-machinery coalition that fully supports our proposals here today.
Regarding the US textile industry itself, it has decreased in size over the last five years even as our export record has steadily improved. According to WTO statistics, the U.S. textile industry is now the third largest exporter of textile products in the world.
Our smaller size, however, has not effected our political support, which as been extremely strong during the last several years. Textile votes were critical in passing both Trade Promotion Authority and in passing CAFTA. Textile state congressmen were the deciding votes in both trade votes and they will likely be key votes – either yea or nay – if a DOHA development agreement reaches the U.S. Congress.
This is not simply the result of good luck and hopefully good outreach, it is also a sign of the angst that trade votes now produce in the U.S. Congress. If trade were ever popular, today it is clearly very unpopular. Major trade agreements have become associated with massive job losses in U.S. manufacturing and, even when there are agreements which the U.S. textile industry can support, they are still very difficult to pass Congress.
marketing@alchempro.com
