The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) warns of a looming crisis in the US textile sector as imports from five Asian countries rise, threatening to destabilize the domestic supply chain. NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas emphasized the urgent need for a thorough reassessment of US trade policies to counter the detrimental impact of these imports on the textile industry.

Glas addressed the US International Trade Commission (USITC), highlighting the unprecedented challenges faced by the domestic textile sector. The Commission is conducting research on the export competitiveness of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan, countries with ultra-low-cost pricing structures and ties to China.

The rise of these countries as top suppliers coincides with the decline of the US textile industry, exacerbated by predatory trade practices and lax customs enforcement. Glas stressed the importance of understanding the factors driving their competitiveness and assessing the consequences for domestic production and the wider Western Hemisphere supply chain.

Pointing to past tragedies like the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh and concerns over labor exploitation, Glas called for immediate action to address unethical practices in global textile production. To safeguard the US textile industry, Glas urged measures such as rejecting proposals to expand product coverage under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), closing tariff loopholes, and enhancing customs enforcement and trade remedies.

The testimony underscores the critical need for proactive policy responses to mitigate the growing threat posed by imports from these Asian countries. Failure to act decisively risks further erosion of the US textile industry and its vital role in the national economy.