WASHINGTON — May 13, 2025 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of U.S. textiles from fiber, yarn and fabrics to finished sewn products, issued the following statement from President and CEO Kim Glas regarding the House Ways and Means Committee’s budget reconciliation bill, which includes a provision that would permanently end de minimis for commercial shipments from all countries by 2027.
Statement by NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas:
“On behalf of the U.S. textile industry, we would like to commend the House Ways and Means Committee for including an important and critical provision in the broader budget reconciliation bill that would permanently end de minimis access for commercial shipments from all countries, effective July 1, 2027.
“The committee is slated to consider and mark up this legislation today. This significant step by Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), and the entire committee validates that the destructive de minimis loophole has harmed U.S. textile manufacturing and impeded the fight against illicit fentanyl trafficking and must be permanently closed.
“NCTO has long advocated for an end to the de minimis loophole, which facilitates four million shipments a day — often found to contain illicit and dangerous products and narcotics — duty free and virtually uninspected to the U.S. market.
“As the bill makes its way through the legislative process, we strongly support a more aggressive timeline to implement a permanent ban on de minimis globally given its significant harm to manufacturers, retailers, and the fight against fentanyl and other illegal products. Express shippers have already transitioned to processing all Chinese imports through sophisticated logistics systems, demonstrating their ability to comply with the president’s executive orders and pivot quickly.
“We recognize the committee’s leadership in moving forward with a permanent global solution that will help restore a level playing field for U.S. manufacturers and spur more investment and job growth.
“We are also grateful that the Trump administration has already used executive authorities to end de minimis access for Chinese goods — which represent approximately two-thirds of all de minimis shipments — while also laying the groundwork to close de minimis to commercial shipments from all countries. We request that the administration utilize its executive authorities to immediately close this damaging loophole once and for all as Congress considers a legislative solution.”
Posted: May 13, 2025
Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
