U.S. TEXTILE EXPORTS TO BENEFIT FROM CARIBBEAN/AFRICAN TRADE BILL

U.S. TEXTILE EXPORTS TO BENEFIT FROM CARIBBEAN/AFRICAN TRADE BILL    U.S. textile exports are expected to increase significantly under the recently enacted Caribbean Basin Initiative/Sub-Saharan Africa trade bill, according to the American Textile Manufacturers Institute.
   Roger W. Chastain, president, chief operating officer and director of Mount Vernon Mills in Greenville, S.C., and the head of ATMI, said the legislation will help the U.S. textile industry by giving duty-free, quota-free benefits to apparel from the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa made from U.S. yarn and fabric. The legislation takes effect Oct. 1.
   Chastain made his comments at Thursday’s Southern Textile Association meeting in Hilton Head, S.C.    ATMI represents the U.S. textile industry. It’s members operate in 30 states and process about 75 percent of all textile fibers consumed by U.S. plants.
   The industry exports $480 million worth of fabric and $109 million worth of yarn to the Caribbean. It also exports cut pieces of fabric worth about $3.6 billion, the majority of which is U.S. fabric.
   “If Caribbean trade develops at even half the growth of our exports to Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement, we will see major business increases in our fabric and yarn shipments to the Caribbean,” Chastain said.
   Industry studies estimate that gains from the legislation for U.S. textile mills could be more than $8 billion in additional sales.
   However, ATMI opposes legislation awaiting Senate action, which would grant permanent normal trade relations status to China.
   Last fall, ATMI released the results of a study that showed China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, under present terms, would result in the loss of more than 150,000 U.S. textile and textile-related jobs.