Yarn Forward Fuels Foreign Textile Investment, Says NCTO

The inclusion of “yarn forward” rules of origin in U.S. trade policy with partners is generating significant foreign investment in U.S. domestic textile manufacturing, said the National Council of Textile Organizations in a March 5 release. “The Yarn-Forward rule has helped the U.S. textile industry become the third largest exporter of textile products in the world. U.S. exports of all textile products were nearly $17.9 billion in 2013,” said the release. “Over the past 10 years, U.S. textile exports have grown dramatically, from $12.7 billion in 2003 to $17.9 billion in 2013, a 40.6% increase over that period.” Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., along with Reps. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H., and Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H. recently urged U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to implement a strict “yarn forward” in Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations (see 14030324).