In response to the Biden administration's announcement on the U.S. Trade Representative Office's review of Section 301 tariffs, Kim Glas, President and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), emphasized the urgent need for stronger measures against China's trade practices. The administration's decision to uphold penalty tariffs on finished textiles and apparel imports from China and to escalate tariffs on specific personal protective equipment (PPE) imports was deemed a necessary step by Glas.
However, Glas lamented the missed opportunity to address China's continued dominance in the US textile market and its detrimental impact on domestic manufacturers and workers. With market conditions rapidly deteriorating due to China's dumping practices, Glas urged the administration to take action to level the playing field. This includes further increasing tariffs on finished textile and apparel imports and certain inputs to counter China's unfair advantages.
The statement highlighted the critical role of the domestic textile industry in national security, particularly as a supplier of essential PPE items. Glas warned that unchecked Chinese trade practices, coupled with ineffective enforcement and trade policies, are jeopardizing the future of domestic manufacturing.
Glas underscored the alarming trend of increased Chinese textile and apparel shipments to the US, compared to significant declines from key trade partners in the Western Hemisphere. This trend signals China's growing dominance in global markets through subsidized and illegal exports.
While acknowledging the administration's efforts to increase tariffs on various Chinese imports, Glas urged for similar action on finished textile and apparel imports to safeguard the American textile industry. The statement emphasized the need for meaningful measures to address China's predatory behavior and protect critical jobs in the industry.
In conclusion, the NCTO called for decisive action to ramp up tariffs on finished textile and apparel imports from China to restore competitiveness and counteract China's destructive trade practices.
