Euratex has welcomed the EU-US Summit in Brussels, and hopes political leaders will launch a new era of closer cooperation across the Atlantic.

EU-US trade in textiles and apparel has dropped by nearly 20 per cent in 2020 (just under €6 billion), while imports from other countries, in particular China, have increased spectacularly. At the same time, global supply chains came under pressure, and access to certain raw materials for the industry became difficult and costly.

Against this background, Euratex called for a better functioning of global supply chains, with common rules which are applied by all. It urged EU and US authorities to put their full influence to establish a level playing field for the industry across the globe, promoting environmental and social standards. Sustainable and circular textiles should become the norm, thus contributing to a greener planet and creating high quality jobs.

At bilateral level, the EU and US should resume their work on mutual recognition of standards and certification procedures, thus saving considerable costs for companies while maintaining the highest safety standards, Dirk Vantyghem, Director General, Euratex said. Custom procedures can be simplified on both sides, and joint research, e.g. in smart textiles, should be promoted.

Euratex also welcomed the recent progress in provisionally eliminating additional duties on several American and European products due to the Airbus-Boeing trade dispute. It urged both US and EU institutions to eliminate such duties permanently and build on a common positive agenda for the benefit of EU and US companies and consumers.