New Trade Bill
Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) has introduced a bill that would restore ambassador rank to the U.S. Trade Representative’s special textile negotiator. Lobbying from the National Council of Textile Organizations, the American Apparel & Footwear Association and the National Cotton Council of America prompted the move. The groups said they wanted to restore ambassador status to the position to level the playing field during trade negotiations. They wrote a letter to Hayes explaining that the lack of ambassador status “undermines the credibility of U.S. textile and apparel negotiators.” They noted that, in several cases, U.S. trade representatives could not adequately represent the industry because they did not carry the same title as their foreign counterparts.
