The Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) will bring substantial commercial benefits to the EU textile and apparel (T&A) industry, if reached and implemented, according to the European Apparel and Textile Federation (Euratex). The T-TIP has great potential to help EU T&A expand exports to the US market, particularly in two areas: high-end apparels and technical textile market.

EU’s third largest apparel export market is the US, which is only after Switzerland and Russia. Apparel exports from EU (28) to the US exceed €2.5 billion and most products were much higher priced than those exported from elsewhere in the world, last year. When the high tariff facing EU apparel products in the US market is removed, such as 28 percent tariff rate for women’s jackets, and customs red tape is cut, Euratex expects several small and medium (SME) sized EU T&A companies to gain more access to the 300 million people US apparel market.

As for technical textile market, technical textiles, such as high functionality fabrics used for fire-fighters’ uniforms or airbags, comprise of half of EU’s textiles exports to the US. European home textiles too are greatly successful in the US more than €92 million of bed linen was sold last year. Also, transport, construction, agriculture, defence, personal protection, etc., which are all high tech textiles products cover a wide range of applications.

Besides, the US textile market seems to be very attractive for the EU textile industry currently protected by the Berry Amendment. Opening business opportunities in public sector for technical textiles is a must in T-TIP, states Euratex.