LUBBOCK, TX- A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is urging stronger customs enforcement to protect the U.S. textile industry from fraudulent trade practices and illegal imports.
Congressional Textile Caucus Co-Chairs David Rouzer of North Carolina and Adriano Espaillat of New York joined 14 other members in a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. They asked for stronger enforcement of existing trade laws, better detection of customs fraud, and tougher action against repeat offenders.
The lawmakers say foreign textile producers, including those in China and Vietnam, are routing goods through countries with free trade agreements to avoid U.S. tariff obligations. They say those practices hurt American manufacturers and reduce federal revenue.
The textile issue also connects directly to agriculture. Domestic textile production supports U.S. cotton growers, fiber markets, apparel supply chains, and rural manufacturing jobs tied to processing and transportation.
The United States remains a major textile exporter, with the industry contributing more than $65 billion annually to the economy. Textile-related duties totaled $13.2 billion in fiscal year 2024.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Stronger enforcement of textile trade rules could support cotton demand by protecting domestic fiber and manufacturing markets.