Entries by Kristi Ellis

De Minimis Front and Center in Congressional Action This Week

By Kristi Ellis Congressional scrutiny and action over the de minimis loophole took center stage on Capitol Hill this week, as lawmakers underscored the severe economic impacts to American manufacturing and dangers to U.S. consumers wrought by this provision in U.S. trade law, during two days of action that culminated in a markup of de […]

U.S.-China Commission Hears Alarming Testimony on Rise in Unsafe Imports from China through the De Minimis Loophole

The U.S.-China Economic Security and Review Commission (USCC) heard alarming testimony from legal experts and government officials at a recent hearing, highlighting the rise in dangerous and toxic imported consumer products from China and the lack of resources and effective enforcement by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to monitor a surge in imports […]

UFLPA Hearing Update

U.S. Textile Industry Figures Prominently in Congressional Hearing Exploring the Implications of the Lack of Enforcement of UFLPA A bipartisan congressional panel questioned three administration officials Thursday over concerns related to their enforcement efforts to staunch the massive flow of products made with forced labor, which has adversely impacted the U.S. textile industry and other […]

De Minimis Reform in the Spotlight on Capitol Hill

House Ways & Means Democrats elevated congressional concerns over the Section 321 de minimis loophole—which has become a black market for illicit goods—at a roundtable Wednesday that highlighted the devastating implications of this gaping loophole for a diverse group of stakeholders spanning the domestic manufacturing supply chain, law enforcement, labor, and human rights organizations. Rep. […]

U.S.-China Commission Fields Questions on Growing Chinese Fentanyl Trade and a U.S. Loophole that Facilitates Importation of Illegal Products into the U.S. Market

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission released its annual report to Congress Tuesday, covering a wide range of topics and issuing key findings, policy recommendations and executive summaries. Several questions were raised during the briefing on pressing issues, including the surge of fentanyl shipments from China, the de minimis loophole and the Uyghur Forced […]

NCTO Commends Bipartisan Group of Senators for Calling on President Biden to Crack Down on China’s Predatory Trade Practices and Help the U.S. Textile & Apparel Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas issued a statement today, applauding the actions of a bipartisan group of senators who are raising alarm about the impact of China’s predatory trade practices on the U.S. textile and apparel industry and calling on President Joe Biden to lead a […]

VA’s Inaction in Implementing the Make PPE in America Act is Hurting American Textile and Apparel Manufacturers

It has been 19 long months since legislation designed to increase federal purchases of American-made PPE was enacted, but the inaction of at least one key federal agency in purchasing more domestically-produced items is posing a threat to the very U.S. supply chain that stepped up overnight to protect our nation during the COVID pandemic. […]

NCTO Chairman Norman Chapman Outlines Priority Issues for U.S. Textile Industry

NCTO Chairman Norman Chapman, who is president and CEO of Inman Mills, recently outlined a wide range of policy issues the organization is engaged in this year to maintain the domestic textile industry’s competitiveness, expand its investments and exports, and strengthen customs enforcement of illegal trade practices. Speaking at a Southern Textile Association’s conference on […]

NCTO Amplifying the Policy Issues Impacting the Industry

On the communications and press front, NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas penned two important and insightful op-eds, outlining how Section 301 tariffs and the U.S.-Dominic Republic (CAFTA-DR) agreement are helping the U.S. textile industry, a key American manufacturing sector, compete. In the first piece, Kim wrote a joint op-ed with CECATEC-RD Executive Director Patricia […]