For Immediate Release
August 21, 2014
NCTO Joins With Leading Manufacturing Organizations to Call for Immediate Action on Currency Manipulation
Columbia, S.C. — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) joined with the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today to seek U.S. government action to stop currency manipulation. NCTO called upon lawmakers to adopt meaningful legislation to stop predatory currency practices and the Executive Branch to include strong and enforceable currency manipulation disciplines in all future trade agreements.
Export-oriented countries such as China and Vietnam have been shown to purposefully devalue their currency in order to promote their exports and to block imports into their markets. This practice places the entire U.S. manufacturing base at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to international trade.
During an event today in Columbia, S.C., the three organizations highlighted how unfair currency policies hurt American job creation and economic growth. According to a 2014 study by the Economic Policy Institute, ending unfair currency policies can create as many as 2.3 million new manufacturing jobs in the United States by leveling the playing field in global markets.
“NCTO is pleased to join with other major manufacturing associations to highlight the need for currency reform,” said Augustine Tantillo, President of NCTO. “Currency manipulation distorts the global marketplace and puts American workers at a disadvantage. NCTO calls upon congressional leaders to support legislative initiatives that create tangible remedies for U.S. manufacturers that have been damaged by unfair currency practices.”
“Currency manipulation affects all U.S. manufacturing,” Tantillo continued, “As a result, we need a bipartisan solution that involves both the Legislative and Executive Branches of our government.”
The U.S. textile and apparel industries employ nearly 500,000 workers in the United States, including 19,400 textile industry jobs in South Carolina.
SC Currency Press Release
NCTO APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY
/in Recent News, Testimony and Statements /by nctoFor Immediate Release
June 25, 2015
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) applauds Senate passage of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). TPA establishes congressional negotiating objectives and institutes parameters associated with the final congressional review of international trade agreements. Additionally, TPA formalizes consultation mechanisms between Congress and the Executive Branch on trade agreements as they are being negotiated. Read more
NCTO PRAISES HOUSE FOR PASSAGE OF TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY
/in Recent News, Testimony and Statements /by nctoFor Immediate Release
June 18, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) applauds House passage of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) earlier today. TPA establishes congressional negotiating objectives and consultation mechanisms involving international trade agreements currently being negotiated by the U.S. government.
Read more
NCTO Statement on Today’s House Vote on the Trade Act of 2015
/in Testimony and Statements /by nctoJune 12, 2015
WASHINGTON—NCTO encourages Congress and the Administration to work toward a bipartisan solution that will allow Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to proceed swiftly in the House of Representatives. NCTO remains committed to the success of TPA as a vital part of overall U.S. trade policy in an effort to ensure strong and rational international trade agreements that fully incorporate the interests of the U.S. textile industry.
NCTO STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015
/in Recent News, Testimony and Statements /by nctoNCTO STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) praises Senate passage of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 establishes congressional negotiating objectives and institutes parameters associated with the final congressional review of international trade agreements currently being negotiated by the U.S. government.
Additionally, TPA formalizes consultation mechanisms between Congress and the Executive Branch on trade agreements as they are being negotiated. It is critical that the Executive Branch work closely with Congress to develop trade agreements that fully incorporate the interests of American textile workers and the middle class. The U.S. textile and apparel industry employs 499,500 hard working Americans in the United States. It is imperative that these agreements are constructed in a balanced and fair manner in order to help boost American exports, create jobs, and strengthen the U.S. economy.
“We are pleased to continue to lend our support to the renewal of Trade Promotion Authority,” stated NCTO President Augustine Tantillo. “We commend the Senate for passing a clean bill that did not include provisions damaging to domestic job growth, manufacturing, and the U.S. textile industry as a whole. We encourage the House to follow the Senate’s lead and pass a clean TPA bill without amendments that hurt domestic textile workers.”
NCTO Statement on House Passage of FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735)
/in Recent News, Testimony and Statements /by nctoNCTO Statement on House Passage of FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735)
NCTO applauds the action taken by the House of Representatives earlier today in passing the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735). The Defense Authorization bill contained important language supporting the Berry Amendment authored by Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) (Amendment #74, part of En Bloc Amendment #5). NCTO commends Congressman McGovern for offering this amendment that ensures that a provision in Section 854 of H.R. 1735 would not seriously harm the U.S. textile, apparel, and footwear industry. Section 854 proposes to increase the Simplified Acquisition Threshold procedure (SAT) from $150,000 to $500,000 meaning that contracts falling below the SAT level would not be subject to the Berry Amendment. The McGovern amendment, however, exempted Berry contracts from this increased SAT threshold and instead mandates that the current $150,000 threshold level remain in place for all textile and apparel purchases under Berry.
Among other things, the Berry Amendment ensures that our warfighters stay protected in domestically produced personal protective equipment. The Berry Amendment has spurred substantial research, development and innovation that ensures that America’s warfighters have the most advanced and effective textile materials available. In addition, Berry helps to spur U.S. manufacturing, investment, employment, and exports. It is imperative that Congress preserve the integrity of the Berry Amendment through policies like Congressman McGovern’s amendment. Doing so will ensure the highest level of performance and safety for our U.S. military.
5/15/2015
NCTO Statement on Trade Legislation Passed by the Senate Today (5/14/2015)
/in Press Releases, Recent News, Testimony and Statements /by nctoNCTO Statement on Trade Legislation Passed by the Senate Today
NCTO commends the Senate for earlier today passing two important pieces of trade legislation H.R. 1295 and H.R. 644, addressing trade preference programs and customs enforcement. As the Senate now moves to consider another trade package including Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), NCTO urges the chamber to pass a clean TPA bill without harmful amendments that will damage U.S. textile jobs, manufacturing, and exports.
5/14/2015
TPA Statement
/in Press Releases, Testimony and Statements /by nctoTPA Statement
NCTO applauds both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee for reporting out a clean TPA bill – The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. In addition, NCTO is appreciative that accompanying legislation did not include provisions damaging to domestic job growth, manufacturing, and the U.S. textile industry as a whole. NCTO encourages both the House and Senate to swiftly pass these bills without additional amendments that would adversely impact U.S. textile manufactures.
The U.S. textile and apparel industry is a strong and growing industry employing 499,500 American workers in 2014. It is critical that U.S. trade agreements are constructed so that the U.S. can compete on a level playing field and in doing so boost American exports, create jobs, and strengthen the U.S. economy. TPA legislation will ensure that the U.S. meets these goals and creates high-standard 21st century trade agreements.
NCTO ENDORSES THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015
/in Press Releases, Recent News /by nctoFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2015
Contact: Eliza Levy
202-822-8028
NCTO ENDORSES THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) endorses the introduction of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority as introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) would establish congressional negotiating objectives and consultation mechanisms involving international trade agreements currently being negotiated by the U.S. government.
“We are pleased to lend our support to this renewal of Trade Promotion Authority,” stated NCTO President Augustine Tantillo. “We look forward to working with both the Executive Branch and Congress as we advocate for trade agreements that fully incorporate the interests of U.S. textile manufacturers. It is critical that these trade agreements help to level the international playing field and boost American exports, create manufacturing jobs, and strengthen the U.S. economy.”
Among the various negotiating objectives included in the bill is textile-specific language addressing the need for fair market access in trade negotiations.
Subparagraph 2(b)(18) of the bill reads:
Textile Negotiations: The principal negotiating objectives with respect to trade in textiles and apparel are to obtain opportunities for U.S. exports of textiles and apparel in foreign markets substantially equivalent to the competitive opportunities afforded foreign exports in U.S. markets and to achieve fairer and more open conditions of trade in textiles and apparel.
NCTO Applauds USTR for Confronting China on Illegal Export Subsidies
/in Press Releases, Recent News /by nctoFebruary 11, 2015
NCTO Applauds USTR for Confronting China on Illegal Export Subsidies
Washington, D.C. – The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) applauds U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman’s decision to pursue dispute settlement consultations with the Government of China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning China’s “Demonstration Bases-Common Service Platform” export subsidy program. (Ambassador Froman’s press release linked here)
Through this program, China provides WTO prohibited export subsidies to manufacturers which meet export performance criteria. These illegal subsidies have bolstered China’s meteoritic export surge of textiles and apparel into the U.S. market. The chart below demonstrates the phenomenal growth of Chinese textile and apparel exports to the U.S. market since 2001.
China’s massive export growth over this period resulted in billions of dollars in lost sales and tens of thousands of lost jobs in the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere. “It has been NCTO’s long standing position that China’s rise in the global textile and apparel market has been substantially aided by illegal and unfair trading practices. These illegal practices distort the global market place and put the entire U.S. manufacturing base at a considerable disadvantage,” stated NCTO president Augustine Tantillo. “We applaud the Obama Administration for today’s decision to hold our international trading competitors to their WTO obligations,” he continued.
When afforded a level playing field, the U.S. textile and apparel industry can compete with any country in the world. In 2013*, the U.S. textile and apparel industry was the third largest exporter of textile and apparel products in the world, exporting nearly $24 billion in goods. The industry is also a significant contributor to the overall U.S. economy, producing over $70 billion in annual output. Most importantly, the industry remains a major employer in the United States, providing jobs for nearly 500,000 workers from fiber production to finished product in 2013*. Additionally, for every one direct textile or apparel job, there are three additional jobs supported within the U.S. economy.
NCTO encourages the U.S. to strenuously pursue this matter at the WTO in order to begin the eradication of these illegal trading practices. Doing so will lead to more fair and open competition in the global market.
*This press release contains 2013 data. Full year 2014 data has not yet been released by the USITC.
NCTO Joins With Leading Manufacturing Organizations to Call for Immediate Action on Currency Manipulation
/in Press Releases /by nctoFor Immediate Release
August 21, 2014
NCTO Joins With Leading Manufacturing Organizations to Call for Immediate Action on Currency Manipulation
Columbia, S.C. — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) joined with the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today to seek U.S. government action to stop currency manipulation. NCTO called upon lawmakers to adopt meaningful legislation to stop predatory currency practices and the Executive Branch to include strong and enforceable currency manipulation disciplines in all future trade agreements.
Export-oriented countries such as China and Vietnam have been shown to purposefully devalue their currency in order to promote their exports and to block imports into their markets. This practice places the entire U.S. manufacturing base at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to international trade.
During an event today in Columbia, S.C., the three organizations highlighted how unfair currency policies hurt American job creation and economic growth. According to a 2014 study by the Economic Policy Institute, ending unfair currency policies can create as many as 2.3 million new manufacturing jobs in the United States by leveling the playing field in global markets.
“NCTO is pleased to join with other major manufacturing associations to highlight the need for currency reform,” said Augustine Tantillo, President of NCTO. “Currency manipulation distorts the global marketplace and puts American workers at a disadvantage. NCTO calls upon congressional leaders to support legislative initiatives that create tangible remedies for U.S. manufacturers that have been damaged by unfair currency practices.”
“Currency manipulation affects all U.S. manufacturing,” Tantillo continued, “As a result, we need a bipartisan solution that involves both the Legislative and Executive Branches of our government.”
The U.S. textile and apparel industries employ nearly 500,000 workers in the United States, including 19,400 textile industry jobs in South Carolina.
SC Currency Press Release