Dominican Textile Bill Introduced in Congress
The Dominican Republic might be getting an apparel manufacturing boost.
A bill that would allow that Latin American country to use non-U.S. fabric and still gain duty-free status on some of its apparel exports to the United States was introduced in Congress on July 22.
U.S. Reps. Charles Rangel (D–N.Y.) and Jim McCrery (R–La.) introduced H.R. 6560. Under the legislation, for every two garments made with U.S. fabric, the Dominican Republic would be able to make one garment out of fabric that comes from outside the United States. The bill is commonly called the two-for-one bill. It applies to only pants and certain kinds of bottoms.
“This long-overdue program will create incentives for the purchase of U.S. textiles, supporting businesses and workers here at home while also providing valuable benefits to apparel producers and workers in the Dominican Republic,” Rangel said in a statement. “It is easy to see why industries in both countries have been supportive of this initiative.”
Under the program, which will be administered by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, for every two square meters of U.S. fabric purchased, the Dominican Republic would be given credit for one square meter of fabric that could be used from any region in the world. —Deborah Belgum
