Cass Johnson, President of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), released the following statement in anticipation of the Senate Finance Committee’s confirmation hearing on the nomination of Michael Froman to serve as United States Trade Representative (USTR).
“As the Finance Committee begins consideration of Michael Froman’s nomination to serve as the next USTR, the National Council of Textile Organizations urges the U.S. Senate to remember the critical role that strong and fair trade rules play in sustaining local economies and more than 500,000 textile jobs across America.
“The next USTR will play a critical role in shaping our nation’s engagement inside highly competitive and changing global markets as the Obama Administration seeks to finalize the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
"Given the vital role of this agreement in sustaining America’s prosperity and jumpstarting our national economy, the NCTO believes that the next USTR must remain committed to supporting principles that have been standard in previous free trade agreements; including the ‘yarn forward’ rule, fair market access and strong customs enforcement. Anything less than full support of these rules by the USTR will serve to undermine previous trade agreements and threaten U.S. textile jobs.
“Lastly, the NCTO urges Finance Committee Members to seek assurances from Mr. Froman that he will reject Vietnamese proposals which adversely impact American textile manufacturing and the supply chains of our western hemisphere and African trading partners.
"The USTR’s support of the “yarn forward” rule and other strong textile rules will ensure that third parties, such as China, do not take advantage of the final agreement, and send a clear message that the United States is committed to standing up on behalf a vibrant textile manufacturing sector at home, across the western hemisphere and in Africa.
