US Lawmakers Call for Stronger Textile Trade Enforcement to Protect Cotton Industry

Bipartisan Congressional group urges stricter customs enforcement to address fraudulent trade practices and illegal textile imports

A bipartisan coalition of U.S. House lawmakers has requested stronger customs enforcement measures to protect the country's textile industry from fraudulent trade practices and illegal imports.

The request was made in a letter sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by Congressional Textile Caucus Co-Chairs David Rouzer of North Carolina and Adriano Espaillat of New York, along with 14 other members of Congress.

In the letter, the lawmakers called for stronger enforcement of existing trade laws, improved detection of customs fraud and tougher action against repeat offenders involved in illegal trade practices.

According to the lawmakers, some foreign textile producers, including manufacturers in China and Vietnam, are routing products through countries that have free trade agreements with the United States in order to avoid U.S. tariff obligations. They stated that these practices negatively affect American textile manufacturers while reducing federal revenue.

The lawmakers also highlighted the connection between the textile industry and the agricultural sector. They noted that domestic textile manufacturing supports U.S. cotton growers, fibre markets, apparel supply chains and rural manufacturing jobs associated with processing and transportation.

According to the information provided, the United States remains a major textile exporter, with the textile industry contributing more than $65 billion annually to the national economy. Textile-related duties totalled $13.2 billion in fiscal year 2024.