TPP Talks Offer Great Potential to Promote US Jobs & Exports
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Apparel Coalition Urges Negotiators to Spur Economic Growth in Apparel and Textiles
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Contact:
Alex Boian, Director of Trade Policy
Outdoor Industry Association
303.327.3509
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Talks Offer Great Potential to Promote U.S. Jobs and U.S. Exports
TPP Apparel Coalition Urges Negotiators to Spur Economic Growth
in Apparel and Textiles
Chicago, IL (September 16, 2011) — As the 8th round of TPP negotiations wind down in Chicago, Illinois today, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Apparel Coalition is encouraged by the strong commitment by our TPP partner countries to develop thoughtful textile and apparel policies that spur new trade and investment.
“In Chicago, we were delighted to see the enthusiasm from our TPP partner countries to establish modern textile and apparel rules that can sustain millions of jobs that rely on global value chains. Such rules would maximize TPP benefits for U.S. companies, consumers and workers,” said the coalition. “The TPP discussions on textiles are still in the very early stages, and we look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to write rules that promote U.S. jobs and U.S. innovation while fostering trade and investment among TPP partners. Outdated ‘yarn-forward’ style rules of origin are unworkable in today’s global value chains. Such an ‘all or nothing’ approach would not spur new U.S. exports or new apparel trade or new investment in the textile and apparel sector.”
When considering ways to create new opportunities in the TPP for apparel, it is important to keep in mind the value and jobs created throughout the entire global value chain. A global value chain includes the full range of activities that firms and workers do to bring a product from concept to the final customer. This includes the manufacturing, design, production, marketing, distribution, retail and support to the final customer.
The Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), recognizes this modern reality and also strongly demonstrated his support for updated rules on apparel by widely circulating a letter addressed to Ambassador Kirk during the talks.
“The best [rules] for creating more high skilled, well-compensated American workers is one that promotes finished apparel production within the TPP community, and that is something the yarn-forward rule will not do,” Wyden wrote.
“We thank Senator Wyden for his continued support on this important issue and hope that others will join him in pressing for new rules on apparel as we move into the next round of negotiations,” the Coalition concluded.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Apparel Coalition supports negotiation of a 21st Century TPP agreement that generates new trade and investment opportunities for the benefit of workers, businesses, and families. These opportunities include buying and selling goods and services, sustaining and growing well-paying jobs, and providing high added value for the U.S. and TPP economies. Please visit tppapparelcoalition.org for information, the coalition’s position paper and other resources from the TPP Apparel Coalition.
Members include: American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), National Retail Federation (NRF), Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), The United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA)
About Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. OIA provides trade services for over 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. OIA provides industry defining resources and support in government/legislative affairs, market and social research, businessâ€to-business services and youth outreach initiatives. Ongoing education opportunities and strategic business workshops provided by OIA include the annual Rendezvous®, Outdoor University® sessions, and the Capitol Summit. Outdoor Industry Association is based in Boulder, Colorado, and is the title sponsor of the Outdoor Retailer tradeshows. For more information about OIA go to outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.
