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NCTO, CANAINTEX, CECATEC-RD RALLY FOR STRONG RULES IN THE TPP ON CAPITOL HILL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 12, 2014

NCTO, CANAINTEX, CECATEC-RD

RALLY FOR STRONG RULES IN THE TPP ON CAPITOL HILL

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 10, U.S. textile manufacturers joined with their counterparts throughout the Western Hemisphere to communicate to congressional leaders the importance of adopting fair and reasonable textile rules in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The event brought together the trade associations for U.S., Mexican, and Central American textile and apparel producers, CEOs of regional manufacturers, and trade representatives of CAFTA-DR governments. Meetings highlighted the strong growth in trade and investment in textile manufacturing as a result of the NAFTA and CAFTA-DR trade agreements.

The group met with House and Senate leadership offices, including aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker John Boehner, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and staff for the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees, and leaders of the House Textile Caucus. Discussions focused on the need for a strong “yarn forward” rule of origin, robust customs enforcement, and reasonable tariff phase outs for sensitive products in TPP.

“Mexico is a key textile and apparel producer in the Western Hemisphere and is a critical part of the supply chain for many American textile and apparel companies,” said Nora Ambriz, Executive Director of CANAINTEX. “Ninety-six percent of Mexican apparel exports are shipped to the United States each year and Mexico is the leading export destination for U.S. textiles and apparel. NAFTA has created this dynamic and integral relationship between the U.S. and Mexico’s textile and apparel sectors and it is critically important that TPP does not damage the Western Hemisphere supply chain in this sector.”

“A final TPP must contain provisions that have been the foundation of U.S. trade agreements over the past 25 years: fair rules of origin, common sense market access rules, and strong customs enforcement provisions,” said Jay Self, Chairman of NCTO and President and CEO of Greenwood Mills. “The NAFTA and CAFTA-DR free trade agreements have created a sustainable and competitive manufacturing platform for U.S. textile and apparel companies which allows us to compete in the global market. It is imperative that U.S. trade policy continues to foster the economic growth seen under these agreements by building on the successful rules they contain.”

“The U.S. and the CAFTA-DR region, including the Dominican Republic, have created a prosperous and sustainable integrated manufacturing platform,” said Karin de Leon, Executive Director of CECATEC-RD. “This partnership provides hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs throughout the CAFTA-DR region, and is responsible for billions in two-way trade with the United States.”

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About the organizations:

CANAINTEX is the leading organization representing the textile value chain in México.

CECATEC-RD is a nonprofit and regional organization which integrates the associations and chambers of the apparel and textile sector in Central America and Dominican Republic, representing and developing strategies for promotion, development and protection of the industry in the region.

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), headquartered in Washington, DC, with an office in Gastonia, NC, is the national trade association representing the entire spectrum of the textile sector. For more information about the U.S. textile industry, view NCTO’s website at www.ncto.org.

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PDF: PRESS RELEASE NCTO, CANAINTEX, CECATEC-RD RALLY FOR STRONG RULES IN THE TPP ON CAPITOL HILL

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House Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn Visits South Carolina Textile Manufacturer DAK Americas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 27, 2014

House Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn Visits South Carolina Textile Manufacturer DAK Americas

DAK Americas, Monks Corner, SC- 5/27/14

L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn; Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Manager, DAK Americas

GOOSE CREEK, SC — Today, Congressman Jim Clyburn toured DAK America’s textile manufacturing facility in Goose Creek, S.C., to learn more about the company’s fiber production operations which are used in numerous downstream apparel and technical textile applications. The visit is part of the National Council of Textile Organizations’ (NCTO) “Hill to the Mill” program which gives members of Congress an opportunity to see firsthand innovations and new investments in the textile manufacturing sector.

DAK Americas is a leading employer in South Carolina, where it employs nearly 1,000 people in highly skilled jobs including full service and contract positions. DAK Americas is a fast growing company with core businesses comprised of Polyester Staple Fibers (PSF), PET Container Resins (PET) and Terephthalic Acid (TPA). The company has a growing presence in its Specialty Polymers and GreenPET (recycled and renewable raw materials) businesses.

“We were honored to host Congressman Clyburn’s visit to our plant, and to show him the investments we are making in new products and technology in an effort to support U.S. textile jobs,” said Jorge Young, President and CEO of DAK Americas. “We are proud of the significant contributions our facilities and workers make to the state of South Carolina and are very pleased that Congressman Clyburn would take time to better familiarize himself with our company.”

The U.S. textile manufacturing sector in general has continued to see investment and growth over the past year. The U.S. has become an increasingly attractive option for textile investment due to competitive energy, transportation, and fiber costs. Beyond these basic economic factors, a key driver for the new investment surge has been the success of “yarn forward” origin requirements included in every major U.S. free trade agreement.

DAK Americas, Monks Corner, SC- 5/27/14

L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn; Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Manager, DAK Americas

DAK Americas, Monks Corner, SC- 5/27/14

L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn; Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Manager, DAK Americas

L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Todd Ethington-Government Affairs, NCTO;

Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Mgr., DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn

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NCTO Presents at TTIP Negotiating Round in Washington, DC, Meets with EU Counterpart EURATEX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May, 21, 2014

NCTO Presents at TTIP Negotiating Round in Washington, DC, Meets with EU Counterpart EURATEX

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) made a formal stakeholder presentation at the 5^th negotiating round of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in Arlington, Virginia. The presentation highlighted key U.S. textile industry positions including the need for a yarn forward rule of origin, and the preservation of U.S. government procurement regulations such as the Berry Amendment.

Earlier in the week, NCTO staff met with EU counterpart, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX). EURATEX is the voice of the European textile and apparel sector, employing 1.6 million workers. The discussions reviewed the two groups’ overall goals in regard to TTIP along with whether there is the potential to reach a joint U.S./EU textile industry position on specific TTIP issues.

“The effort to establish a comprehensive free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union marks the first time U.S. manufacturers and exporters may be able to enjoy FTA access to an overseas market that rivals our own,” said Augustine Tantillo, NCTO President and CEO. “We look forward to a productive and collaborative relationship with EURATEX and other European industry groups in hopes of reaching mutually beneficial positions under the TTIP.”

TTIP is an effort to establish a free trade bloc between the United States and the 28 member nations of the European Union. The TTIP negotiations present a unique set of opportunities and challenges for the U.S. textile industry. While the U.S. and EU textile and apparel markets may be similar in market size and cost structure, the U.S. trade deficit with the EU in those products totaled almost $3 billion in 2013.

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The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), headquartered in Washington, DC with an office in Gastonia, NC, is the national trade association representing the entire spectrum of the textile sector. For more information about the U.S. textile industry, view NCTO’s website at www.ncto.org.

PDF: NCTO Presents at TTIP Negotiating Round in Washington, DC, Meets with EU Counterpart EURATEX

May 21, 2014 Comments (0) Press Releases, Recent News Like

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Stakeholder Presentation, U.S. Textile Industry Positions, Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP)

NCTO T-TIP Stakeholder Presentation May 2014

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NCTO Statement on Formaldehyde for The Dr.OZ Show

Why Formaldehyde is used:

Formaldehyde is a chemical used in manufacturing products by many industries including textiles. It is ubiquitous in nature and has been known for a long time to be a sensitizer. In the textile industry, formaldehyde is used in very small quantities used in wet processing to create durable press (DP) properties in textile fabrics.

Health Concerns:

The use of formaldehyde in textiles and apparel has been a growing concern of American consumers as the chemical is classified as a possible carcinogen. One study found that when mice were exposed to high levels of formaldehyde, over long periods of time, the mice did develop tumors (this study was conducted in the 1980’s).

U.S. Textile Industry Response to Public Concern:

In response to public concern, the U.S. textile industry invited the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to join in a research project to determine if formaldehyde as used by the domestic textile industry could pose a health risk for consumers. The joint study was conducted by an independent research laboratory using durable press treated fabric processed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s textile laboratory in a way typical of commercial production.

Results of the research were evaluated and it was the consensus of all participants that formaldehyde used by the U.S. Textile Industry in very small quantities is metabolized in the skin and none was found at other sites. It was concluded by all research participants that formaldehyde, in very small amounts, used by the U.S. Textile industry does not pose a significant health risk for consumers.

Imported Products:

It is important to note that this study addressed U.S-produced fabric only and cannot be considered indicative of formaldehyde levels on foreign finished fabrics. Unfortunately, many countries manufacture textiles and apparel with much higher levels of Formaldehyde. There is also close to zero testing of this chemical when the product enters the U.S. market. This equates to the average consumers clothing potentially having much higher levels of the chemical then what the U.S. CPSC has determined as safe for the human body.

Conclusions:

Since the concern of formaldehyde has been raised and continues to worry consumers, the U.S. textile industry has continued to find ways to reduce the levels of formaldehyde textiles. While U.S. textiles and apparel contain safe levels of formaldehyde, imported items, particularly items for babies and small children, may contain unsafe levels of this chemical due to lack of adequate testing for imported products.

Formaldehyde is not government regulated in the U.S. and thus consumers must be, and have been the driving force in the elimination of the chemical in textiles and apparel. While the U.S. industry has listened to the American consumer, many countries continue to manufacture with unsafe levels of the chemical.

It is important for consumers to be mindful of where clothes are produced, how they are made, and what medical science and the U.S. government has determined is safe when making purchases which utilize chemicals in the manufacturing process.

Apr 30, 2014 Comments (0) Uncategorized Like

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NCTO Elects Officers during 11th Annual Meeting Held in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – James C. Self III, President and COO of Greenwood Mills, located in Greenwood, SC was elected to serve as Chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations during the group’s 11th Annual Meeting held at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC March 25-27.

http://ncto.org/Newsroom/pr2014-0408–AnnualMeetingOfficersRelease.pdf

Apr 11, 2014 Comments (0) Press Releases Like

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Media Invitation – NCTO Annual Meeting March 26-27, 2014

NCTO Annual Meeting March 26-27, 2014

Media Invitation

http://ncto.org/Links/2014AnnualMeetingMediaInvite.pdf

Apr 10, 2014 Comments (0) Press Releases Like

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Yarn-Forward Rule Spurs Investment in U.S. Textile Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. textile industry has seen a surge in foreign direct investment over the past 8 months. No less than 8 foreign companies have made public announcements over that period to invest more than $700 million in new U.S. textile facilities and equipment. These investments are projected to provide approximately 1,900 new jobs in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.