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NCTO, AAFA write to Trump opposing proposed Mexico tariffs
10 Jun '19
2 min read
The US National Council of Textile Organisations (NCTO) and American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump, opposing the proposed escalation in tariffs for all imports from Mexico. The move will hurt US workers as lakhs of US workers depend on the trade partnership with Mexico, the market for half of all US textile exports.
Both the trade organisations urged the President Trump to refrain from imposing such tariffs, according to an NCTO press release.
“Mexico is the top export market for US fibre, yarns and fabrics and adding tariffs on Mexican imports of apparel and home furnishings will only hurt the US textile industry’s growth and competitiveness and jeopardize jobs in both countries,” said NCTO president and chief executive officer (CEO) Kim Glas.
“Further, these planned tariffs disrupt and distract congressional passage of the pending U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a key administration priority, which not only strengthens the textile industry’s existing supply chain and our free trade partnership with Mexico, but also helps to expand it,” Glas added.
“AAFA and NCTO often have different ideas when it comes to trade policy, however we are totally united in opposition to the proposal to add tariffs on our products,” said Rick Helfenbein, AAFA president and CEO.
“Potential tariffs on Mexico are an unwelcome and unnecessary tax on American workers and consumers at a time when we should be focusing on the ratification of the USMCA. Mexico is the eighth largest supplier of apparel and seventh largest supplier of footwear to the US market, with 35 per cent of men’s and boy’s jeans and 15 per cent of work boots coming from south of the border. This move threatens our trade relationship with Mexico and the competitive advantage.... We do not believe that immigration policy and trade policy should be cut from the same cloth,” Helfenbein added. (DS)
Both the trade organisations urged the President Trump to refrain from imposing such tariffs, according to an NCTO press release.
“Mexico is the top export market for US fibre, yarns and fabrics and adding tariffs on Mexican imports of apparel and home furnishings will only hurt the US textile industry’s growth and competitiveness and jeopardize jobs in both countries,” said NCTO president and chief executive officer (CEO) Kim Glas.
“Further, these planned tariffs disrupt and distract congressional passage of the pending U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a key administration priority, which not only strengthens the textile industry’s existing supply chain and our free trade partnership with Mexico, but also helps to expand it,” Glas added.
“AAFA and NCTO often have different ideas when it comes to trade policy, however we are totally united in opposition to the proposal to add tariffs on our products,” said Rick Helfenbein, AAFA president and CEO.
“Potential tariffs on Mexico are an unwelcome and unnecessary tax on American workers and consumers at a time when we should be focusing on the ratification of the USMCA. Mexico is the eighth largest supplier of apparel and seventh largest supplier of footwear to the US market, with 35 per cent of men’s and boy’s jeans and 15 per cent of work boots coming from south of the border. This move threatens our trade relationship with Mexico and the competitive advantage.... We do not believe that immigration policy and trade policy should be cut from the same cloth,” Helfenbein added. (DS)
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