American textile producers reacted on Tuesday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s assertion that the industry was extinct, claiming that American clothing and fabric producers shouldn’t be disregarded while the Trump administration concentrates on growing more sophisticated industries.
The outcry occurred as top advisers defended President Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and as he highlighted his economic triumphs to mark his 100 days in office. In his explanation of the president’s plans to promote local manufacturing, Mr. Bessent earlier in the day indicated that Trump was interested in “the jobs of the future, not the jobs of the past,” which infuriated the textile industry.
“We don’t necessarily need to have a booming textile industry where I grew up again, but we do want to have precision manufacturing and bring that back,” Bessent, a South Carolina native, stated during a White House press conference.
Taking offence, the National Association of Textile Organisations pointed out that it had backed the trade policies of the Trump administration, including the extensive tariffs that Trump declared last month. The organisation noted that last year, the US textile industry employed over 470,000 people and produced over 8,000 distinct items for the military.
The US economy is highly dependent on services, according to critics of the Trump administration’s tariff policy, and attempts to reshore the production of items like textiles would result in higher pricing for consumers. Bessent was arguing that the Trump administration is committed to increasing domestic production of goods that are essential to national security, including cars.
As they compete with Chinese producers who profit from Beijing’s illegal trade practices, US textile makers should not be disregarded, according to Kimberly Glas, the chief executive of the trade association who asked Bessent to meet with her.
