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For Immediate Release: August 22, 2011
Contact: Cory Churches (202) 482-3809
Western Hemisphere Sourcing is Critical to U.S. Textile Industry Success
Under Secretary Sanchez Highlights Regional Integration at MAGIC Show
LAS VEGAS – Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sánchez today emphasized the importance of the textile and apparel industry in the Western Hemisphere to supporting jobs and achieving the President’s National Export Initiative goal to double exports by the end of 2014. Sánchez spoke to industry leaders in the textile, apparel, retailers, and brands during the MAGIC Sourcing Show.
The U.S. Department of Commerce and MAGIC hosted the first-ever “Sourcing in the Americas” Pavilion and Summit, which brought together U.S. textile and apparel brands and retailers with domestic manufacturers to discuss opportunities to source products in the Western Hemisphere.
“The U.S. textile and apparel industry remains a critical part of our national workforce and economy despite increased global competition,” Sánchez said. “With nearly 600,000 workers and more than $50 billion in exports last year, the industry is one of our nation’s largest manufacturing employers.”
The Western Hemisphere is the largest market for U.S. textile and apparel producers. More than 64 percent of U.S. textiles and apparel exports are to the Western Hemisphere. In 2010, the U.S. exported nearly $13 billion of textile and apparel goods to the region, an increase of nearly 20 percent from 2009. The United States is the world’s 4th largest exporter of textiles and apparel.
“Increased regional trade equates to increased U.S. exports,” said Sánchez. “We export more than 60 percent of U.S. yarns and fabrics to our NAFTA and CAFTA trading partners for further processing.”
The Americas Pavilion included 75 companies from the region – representing the free trade agreement and trade preference partners of the United States, including Mexico, Canada, CAFTA, Peru, Haiti, and Colombia.
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