The past week has seen Congressional action on several trade fronts that impact the U.S. textile industry, with Senate and House passage of free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia and Panama in addition to Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) reforms, the General System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade Preferences Act; Senate passage of the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act; and reintroduction in the Senate of the Textile Enforcement and Security Act (TESA). Textile World has compiled a number of press releases reporting on these actions and conveying the opinions of various organizations related to them. The links follow:

Free Trade Agreements
United States Trade Representative (USTR): Statement By U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk On Congressional Passage Of Trade Agreements, Trade Adjustment Assistance And Key Preference Programs

USTR: From Enactment To Entry Into Force: Next Steps On The Trade Agreements

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO): NCTO Thanks Textile District Representatives for Opposition on Korea Free Trade Agreement

National Textile Association (NTA): Congress Okays Job-Destroying Korea FTA

NTA: Panama FTA Approved by Congress, Replicates Loopholes and Sewing Thread Error in DR-CAFTA

United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI): Textile Industry Loses as Congress Passes KORUS Free Trade Agreement

American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC): Manufacturers Dismayed at Passage of Korean Free Trade Agreement

National Retail Federation (NRF): NRF Welcomes Votes on Free Trade Agreement Legislation

American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA): AAFA Applauds Congressional Passage of Long-Pending Trade Agreements

Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act
NCTO: U.S. Textile Industry Applauds Senate Passage of China Currency Bill

AMTAC: Manufacturers Praise 63 to 35 U.S. Senate Vote to Pass Currency Legislation; U.S. House of Representatives Now on Spot to Act

Fair Currency Coalition: Fair Currency Coalition Praises 63-35 Senate Vote to Pass Currency

NRF: NRF CEO Travels to China to Strengthen Retail Ties; Trip to Focus on Trade Barriers, Currency, Visa Delays

Textile Enforcement and Security Act (TESA)
Hagan & Graham Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support U.S. Textiles Industry

NCTO: Senators Hagan and Graham Introduce Legislation to Combat Textile Fraud, Save Textile Jobs

October 18, 2011