2013年是NCTO和美国纺织行业的重大变化之一。4月，NCTO成功完成了与其他两个纺织贸易协会合并，美国制造业贸易行动联盟（AMTAC）和国家纺织协会（NTA）。这次合并扩大了NCTO的成员资格，加强了行业的联邦代表，并将NCTO定位为国内纺织品生产商的明确声音，包括我们政府的立法和行政部门。尽管NCTO，AMTAC和NTA此前曾在重要的政策问题上进行密切合作，但联合协会在该国每个地区的国会议员都有更强的声音和更广泛的范围。
NCTO主席James C.“ Jay” Self III
贸易问题
2014年对于美国纺织业来说至关重要。今年，重要的是要确保对TPP谈判的积极结论。到目前为止，TPP仍然是美国纺织业最重要的政策问题。TPP在20年内继续对国内产业构成最大的挑战，谈判合作伙伴越南仍然是一个关键问题。在整个谈判中，美国行业一直团结一致。它强调，强大，合理的原产规则对于确保只有TPP合作伙伴国家从协议中受益至关重要，而短供应清单以外的任何其他灵活性都将损害国内纺织品制造业。
因为这个行业已经能够证明the tremendous value that strong rules of origin have for textile manufacturing jobs, investment, and exports, the U.S. government has remained steadfast in pursuit of a yarn-forward rule of origin in TPP. In addition, it is imperative that any agreement include protracted duty phaseouts on sensitive textile and apparel items, and strong customs enforcement provisions. At this point in the negotiations, it appears that each of these goals is achievable. As with previous trade agreements, though, many substantial and potentially damaging provisions could be reserved for the very end stages of the negotiations.
即将到来的NCTO董事长Jay Self，Greenwood Mills（左），介绍即将卸任的主席Bill Jasper，Unifi Inc.（右），并对Jasper的服务表示赞赏。
TPP结束后，美国行业面临的下一个大贸易问题是跨大西洋贸易和投资合作伙伴关系（TTIP），这是美国与欧盟之间的自由贸易协定。如果该协议的结构正确，美国和欧洲行业将有机会发展贸易并吸引新的投资。尽管这似乎是一个更简单的总体协议，但存在挑战：欧盟坚持一项复杂的“双重转换”规则，该规则有效地削减了纤维和纱线生产商。在许多情况下，该规则还将织物生产者从协议中删除。欧盟还敦促获得美国军事合同。NCTO已经与整个美国行业的合作伙伴合作，将其立场与美国政府及其在欧洲的行业交流。
浆果修正案
今年，NCTO还专注于保存和增强浆果修正案的需求，该修正案要求美国军方购买的所有服装和其他用纺织品制成的商品都包含100％的美国纤维，纱线和织物；并在美国被切割，缝制和组装。浆果修正案确保美国军事需求不依赖外国。国防采购已成为美国纺织行业整体投资组合的一个极为重要的方面，并将成为极大的兴趣问题。
从左到右：1888年米尔斯的乔纳森·萨德诺夫（Jonathan Sadinoff）讨论了西半球策略，例如史蒂文·迪布拉斯（Steven Diblasi），拉尼尔（Lanier）服装和NCTO的奥古斯丁·坦蒂洛（Augustine Tantillo），听着。
行业扩展
These policy developments and challenges come at a time when the industry is enjoying an impressive rebound. U.S. textile shipments topped $56 billion in 2013, up more than 5 percent from the previous year, and U.S. textile exports were $17.9 billion in 2013, up nearly 5 percent. Much of this export growth is due to the yarn-forward rule of origin in this country’s regional free trade agreements, and there is also growth to new markets and growth in new products. Additionally, the U.S. is enjoying an investment surge in new plants and equipment in the textile sector. The fact that companies from lower-wage countries are coming to the U.S. to manufacture textiles says a lot about the competitiveness of the U.S. industry.
After decades of downward pressure on this sector, the U.S. textile industry has not only stabilized, it is expanding in practically every key economic indicator, including investment, output, employment, and exports. NCTO is committed to shaping the discourse in Washington on textiles and apparel, and communicating the value of the industry’s contributions to the U.S. economy and the economies of its Western Hemisphere trading partners. In the coming year, NCTO looks forward to working with lawmakers and the Obama administration to create a stable and logical policy environment that fully recognizes the value of the U.S. textile industry and its workforce.
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2014年5月/6月
