Trade-Agreement Controversy
A bipartisan letter signed by 52 members of Congress has been sent to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging him to negotiate for strong textile and apparel terms in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade-agreement talks. Smyth McKissick, chief executive of Alice Manufacturing of Easley, S.C., said a loophole-free rule of origin must encompass fiber, yarn, fabric, dyeing and finishing, thread, pocketing, and assembly to make sure the agreement is favorable to all parties involved.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a free-trade agreement that would encompass countries on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Countries that have signed on for negotiations include the United States, Chile, Peru, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei and Singapore.
Apparel and textile leaders in the United States want to make sure customs enforcement rules are strengthened, that a yarn-forward rule of origin for textiles and apparel be adopted, and that Vietnam be required to meet certain transparency and market-based economy benchmarks before gaining any trade benefits.
