A bipartisan group of senators has urged US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enhance the enforcement of textile and apparel trade agreements due to the potential impact on American livelihood and Central American partners.
The group led by Ron Wyden and including Bill Cassidy, Tim Kaine, Thom Tillis, Lindsey Graham, Sherrod Brown, Mark Warner, and Tim Scott, have submitted a letter to the acting commissioner of CBP, Troy Miller.
The letter underlines concerns about the potential impact on American livelihoods and Central American partners due to the reported closures of textile and apparel mills in the US.
It has been said that the senators expressed the view that effective customs enforcement is critical for maintaining a fair and mutually beneficial trade environment, particularly in the context of trade agreements such as the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
These agreements are designed to foster fair trade, uphold high standards, and promote economic growth.
The senators drew attention to the decline in CBP’s textile trade enforcement activities, citing a significant reduction in on-site trade preference verifications since 2018.
The letter stated that CAFTA-DR and USMCA have facilitated a robust regional textiles and apparel supply chain, benefiting both the US and its Central American partners.
