Bipartisan US Senators are calling for quick action to stop what they refer to as China’s ‘illegal trade practises,’ which they say might result in a ‘coming disaster’ for American textile and apparel industry, employment, and the Western Hemisphere as a whole.
Senators Thom Tillis, Sherrod Brown, Raphael Warnock, Ted Budd, J.D. Vance, Tim Scott, Lindsey Graham, and Ben Ray Luján have requested that President Biden call a meeting of senior officials from the National Security Council, Department of the Treasury, Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security, and the US Trade Representative.
The purpose of the gathering is to ‘identify the underlying issues, develop effective and expedient solutions, and engage directly with the US textile and apparel industry and regional allies.’
The senators discuss the value of the US textile and apparel sector to the economy, healthcare, and national security, emphasising that US $ 39 billion in yearly exports from the US textile industry sustain over 500,000 employment.
The senators voiced alarm about how China’s ‘aggressive and illegal practices’—including transhipment, undervaluing of inexpensive goods, coerced labour, and dodging tariffs and penalties—would affect US supply chains.
The senators’ letter outlines specific actions the Biden administration should take, including:
- Stepped-up enforcement against forced labour-subsidised textiles and apparel
- Ending duty-free treatment for clothing made with forced labour under de minimis
- A comprehensive review of executive authorities to hold China accountable for its ‘predatory’ trade practices.
The bipartisan group of senators were commended for their endeavour by NCTO president and CEO Kim Glas. Glas commended senators Tillis and Brown for spearheading the initiative and emphasised the urgent need for action to address a variety of illicit trade practises that are ‘severely impacting’ the US textile and apparel industry.
