Textile Industry Calls on Obama Administration to Address Critical Issues Affecting U.S. Manufacturers during Chinese Presidential Visit
For Immediate Release
September 25, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) calls on the Obama Administration to utilize today’s visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping to highlight the urgent need for substantial economic and trade policy reforms by China in order to help level the playing field for U.S. textile producers and other U.S. manufacturers.
From 1997-2008 the U.S. textile and apparel industry took a major hit at the hands of China’s economic policies, and hemorrhaged over a million jobs. Despite China’s continued unfair practices, since 2009 the industry has had steady growth in the key economic indicators of output, exports, and investment, and is now the third largest exporter of textiles and apparel in the world. Noting these facts, NCTO President Augustine Tantillo said “U.S. textile producers are world class competitors but we have no desire to compete with foreign governments. President Obama has a historic opportunity to work with the Chinese President on these important economic reforms to create a level playing field for U.S. textile manufacturers so that we are able to continue to maintain growth and be a substantial contributor to the U.S. economy. NCTO strongly urges the President to capitalize on this important state visit.”
Tantillo urged President Obama to press President Xi on issues that directly affect the U.S. textile industry. “The domestic textile industry has long fought for changes to China’s predatory trading practices including currency manipulation, illegal subsidizes, and intellectual property infringement. On behalf of the U.S. textile industry, I implore President Obama to address these critical issues with President Xi and urge immediate policy reform.” Tantillo went on to cite the recently filed World Trade Organization (WTO) case by the United States which challenges China’s export subsidy program as an illegal policy and specifically names textiles as a key benefactor of this program.
