US textile industry applauds crackdown on forced labor

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) applauds the addition of 26 Chinese textile firms to the "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" (UFLPA) blacklist. This brings the total to 65 banned entities, hindering their goods from entering the US. Kim Glas, NCTO CEO, praised the move, calling it a "critical step" against forced labor cotton from China's Xinjiang region. This cotton, according to Glas, is used in clothing worldwide, reaching the US market and hurting American producers.

The blacklist expansion is seen as a win for US textile firms struggling with competition from potentially tainted goods. Glas highlights 17 recent US textile plant closures partly attributed to these unfair trade practices. While commending the action, NCTO urges further expansion of the blacklist to include companies beyond China and closing loopholes that allow small, potentially forced-labor-made goods to enter the US. They also recommend stricter enforcement measures to deter violators.

The NCTO welcomes this move as part of a wider DHS enforcement plan and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to combat forced labor and protect the US textile industry.