The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), Washington, marked its first year of
operation in April. Assembled from the remnants of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute and
threading in the purposes formerly espoused by the American Yarn Spinners Association, NCTO has
established itself as a unified voice representing a comprehensive range of sectors within the US
textile industry, and now counts nearly 100 active members. Its activities have included national
and international initiatives, as well as industry outreach, grass-roots campaigns and
communication via the various media.
NCTO has conducted lobbying campaigns targeting Congress, the US Trade Representative and senior
White House officials, as well as Washington’s largest lobbying day in more than 15 years. Allen E.
Gant Jr., NCTO chairman, became the first textile industry representative in more than 10 years to
be named to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.
NCTO’s efforts led to the reimposition of quotas in four categories for textiles and apparel
imported from China following quota removal in 2002, and to government acceptance of industry
safeguards based on threat of market disruption. It also lobbied successfully for the defeat of a
Haiti bill deemed harmful to industry interests and for increased funding for textile enforcement
by the US Customs Service.
NCTO is a founding member of the Global Alliance for Fair Textile Trade, which includes 96 trade
groups from 52 countries opposed to unbridled Chinese textile and apparel trade. The council has
joined with the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, Washington, and the National Cotton
Council, Memphis, Tenn., to develop joint positions on trade and other issues. “The road ahead is
not an easy one, but not an insurmountable one either,” Gant said, looking ahead. “The key to the
textile industry’s continued success is unity in purpose and vision. It is the goal of NCTO’s
leadership and staff to ensure this unity is maintained and utilized to the best interest of our
companies and the workers we employ.
May 2005
