US textile bodies merge into one trade association

The merger, which is effective on April 1, 2013, will bring the vast majority of the U.S. textile industry under one voice in Washington policy circles.

The creation of this new organization will allow the domestic textile industry to more quickly and effectively address the wide range of federal policy developments of importance to the over 1.5 million workers in the United States whose jobs are either directly or indirectly tied to this critical manufacturing sector. More specific merger benefits will include the following:

- The capability to present a united front to Congressional members and Executive Branch agencies on critical policy issues, particularly the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement negotiations.

- A more focused opportunity to properly brand the U.S. textile industry as an integral component of America’s 21st century economy by better highlighting its substantial economic contribution, particularly in the area of employment; its high-tech products; its cutting edge manufacturing processes; and its status as a globally competitive exporter.

- The expansion of industry focus to more fully cover an array of critical issues beyond those that involve trade, to include issues such as regulatory and government contracting matters.

- Increased staffing to do more lobbying, public relations and grassroots activity.

- A better capability to identify and support major governmental customer needs such as those of the U.S. military.

In addition, the merger will improve the structural efficiency of the industry’s representation in Washington by combining and maximizing the various strengths of the three separate associations; more efficiently utilizing the industry’s financial resources by eliminating duplicative efforts; and allowing for a more systematic effort to recruit new members, specifically domestic textile companies that currently are not members of any textile trade association.

“This is an important step for the U.S. textile industry and the hundreds of thousands of workers we employ. The industry has agreed to establish a completely unified trade association to represent its interests in Washington. The result will be a much stronger and more aggressive voice, with a wider geographical and political reach, on the critical matters that face our industry,” said Bill Jasper, NCTO Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Unifi.

“The merger will give our industry the ability to quickly vet and react to fast moving policy developments in Washington. More importantly, it will allow the industry to better develop a positive and proactive agenda that properly reflects the enormous contribution our industry makes to our national economy and our national defense,” said Jeff Price, Co-Chairman of AMTAC and Division President of Milliken & Company.