US Textile Executives Are Pushing Congress To Pass The USMCA Agreement.

In this (2019) August 21st, the US textile senior executive and the congressman Tom Rice convened a roundtable to urge Congress to pass the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as soon as possible in Mexico.

Tom Rice is an important member of the House Ways Means Trade Subcommittee, and is also the main convener to influence the trade and competitiveness of the textile industry in the United States.

The USCMA agreement will update and replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has been 25 years old. The supply chain of the agreement will drive about 30 billion dollars, three sides of textiles and garments trade in the United States, Canada and Mexico every year.

The latest USMCA agreement has made some changes, for example, for the products of sewing thread, pocket, narrow elastic band and some coated fabrics, more stringent rules of origin will be set up, all of which are needed by the American textile industry. In addition, it lays a loophole in the Kissell Kissell Amendment and ensures that customs enforcement is strengthened.

But the agreement has also been welcomed by American apparel brands and importers. Recently, an assessment concluded that USMCA is an agreement for balancing three sides trade in textiles and garments.

The roundtable sponsored by senior executives is sponsored by Milliken&Company, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Jeff Price, executive vice president of Milliken Operations, said: "the USMCA agreement has made several critical updates to the NAFTA agreement, which will help to make the trade of the US and Mexico become stronger and better for the key industries in South Carolina."

Rice, a US congressman, added: "modernizing the outdated trade agreements that reflect the economic development of the twenty-first Century will give full support to American manufacturers to enhance the global competitiveness of the United States". "I will bring back valuable advice to Washington, and will continue to push forward the adoption of the USMCA agreement and maintain the vigorous development of the US economy."

Kim Glas, President and chief executive officer of National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), said: "last year, the total textile exports from the United States to Mexico and Canada amounted to US $12 billion, highlighting the importance of the US supply chain in the western hemisphere".

"In the past ten years, this critical supply chain has boosted the industry's $20 billion investment, and has also helped South Carolina's investment and nearly 25 thousand direct employment opportunities in the textile industry".

NCTO president and Glen Raven and CEO Leib Oehmig agree: "the adoption of the USMCA agreement by the US Congress is one of our most important legislative priorities this year."

The United States, Canada and Mexico have reached the USMCA agreement in September 30th (2018); in November 30, 2018, the three presidents formally signed the agreement. But the trump government in the United States is working hard to promote the ratification of the USMCA agreement in 2019, because the upcoming US election cycle means that the uncertainty USMCA agreement will be ratified this year and will take effect.