The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has launched the DR-CAFTA Sourcing Directory, an online resource created to help support textile jobs throughout the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) region and enhance trade between the United States and its six CAFTA-DR trading partners. The tool will help strengthen connections between textile buyers and manufacturers, facilitate further investment including increased textile and apparel sourcing in CAFTA-DR member countries, and attract additional textile and apparel sourcing to the Western Hemisphere.

In 2010, the United States exported $2.4 billion in yarn and fabric to and imported more than $7 billion in clothing from trading partners under CAFTA-DR — providing employment support throughout the region, including support for some 395,000 U.S. textile workers. USTR notes that the recent renewed interest in sourcing textile production in the Americas, in addition to President Obama's National Export Initiative, have necessitated increased knowledge of market opportunities across the CAFTA-DR region.

The DR-CAFTA Sourcing Directory was developed jointly by USTR, the Inter-American Development Bank and the governments of the CAFTA-DR member countries with input and support from trade associations and the private sector. It debuted at Sourcing at MAGIC — held August 21-24 in Las Vegas — at the inaugural "Sourcing in the Americas Pavilion" hosted jointly by USTR and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA).

August 30, 2011