The United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has announced its formal support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. The decision to endorse TPP came after an in-depth review of the finalized text and a determination that USIFI's key objectives were met under the terms of agreement. The TPP was signed in February by the United States and eleven other countries and awaits congressional approval.
These objectives included securing:
• A strong yarn-forward rule of origin for the vast majority of textile and apparel products;
• Reasonable, multi-year tariff phase-outs for sensitive industrial textile products;
• Preservation of the Berry and Kissell Amendments, U.S. government procurement laws mandating domestic preferences for national security purposes; and
• Provisions that allow for effective customs enforcement cooperation among the TPP parties and other standard textile chapter terms included in U.S. free trade agreements.
Ted Anderson, USIFI Board Chairman and CEO of BondCote Corporation feels the US textile industry can compete globally under trade rules that are reasonable and fair. The overall outcome on TPP is balanced and reflects core textile industry objectives. Therefore, based on the TPP text they endorse the
The USIFI, a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) which represents more than 1500 members in the specialty textile industry worldwide, is a coalition of domestic US fibre, fabric and end-product manufacturers who serve member company interests in both domestic and international affairs.
