WASHINGTON, DC — As anticipated, the American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI) has been dissolved and a new organization has been officially introduced by leadership of the former group and the American Yarn Spinners Association (AYSA).
During a press conference here on March 30, Allen E. Gant Jr., president and CEO of Glen Raven, Inc., Glen Raven, NC, announced the formation of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO).
The new industry lobbying group will serve as the central policy development and implementation body of the U.S. textile industry and its allied product and service suppliers, Gant said.
“This group will bring new resources to the fight for fair trade policies that continue to impact nearly 1 million workers in the U.S. fiber, textile and supplier industry,” said Gant, who has been named the NCTO’s chairman. “Representing one of the largest manufacturing employers in the United States, NCTO will press for fair trade for American textile workers and it will put forward a positive agenda to revitalize this industry.”
AYSA has not been disbanded, but plans are for this to occur by August, according to an informed source.
NCTO’s goal is to create to create powerful coalitions to advance the interests of textile sector, according to the group’s Web site (www.ncto.org). As an organization, it allows all segments of the textile sector to have a vote and a say in determining NCTO policy.
The centerpiece of the new group is four separate councils representing the fiber, fabric, supplier and yarn industries, each with its own board representation, according to the Web site.
Cass Johnson, previously acting president of the 55-year-old ATMI, has been named NCTO president.
Jim Chesnutt, CEO of National Spinning Co., Washington, NC, will serve as NCTO’s vice chairman. He said the new group was already at work at building a worldwide coalition of textile and apparel industries being hurt by unfair trade practices.
“Today, textile and apparel groups around the world are rising up against the few large suppliers such as China that seek to dominate world trade through the use of unfair trade practices,” Chesnutt said. “In just the last three weeks, textile and apparel groups from more than 20 developed, developing and least developed countries have united under the ‘Istanbul Declaration’ (see story, this page) to demand action.
“NCTO will work closely with these groups to make the case to the Congress, the administration, as well as the WTO that only through effective fair trade policies can our industry, as well as those around the world, benefit,” he added.
NCTO is comprised of four councils: a Fabric and Home Products Manufacturers Council, a Fiber Manufacturers Council; an Industry Support Council and a Yarn Manufacturers Council. Each council will have its own representation on the NCTO board.
“NCTO will be able to sharply focus industry efforts and supply increased resources to those trade and regulatory issues, such as flammability standards and environmental regulations that are most vital to the textile industry,” Chesnutt said.
Steve Dobbins, CEO of Carolina Mills, Maiden, NC, and a member of the NCTO executive committee, added: “In these difficult economic times, we believe the Congress and the administration will support a program that demands fair play for U.S. textile workers, as well as an aggressive stance towards those who refuse to play by the rules.”
The American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) will not join NCTO because it is broader-based, but leaders its leaders said they support NCTO’s efforts, according to reports.
NCTO is also supported by a number of House and Senate members.
“It is gratifying to have the entire fiber, textile and supplier industry in the United States now speaking with one voice through the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO),” said Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC). “Those of us in Congress who care about the textile industry are eager to work with NCTO on ensuring that free trade becomes synonymous with fair trade.”
Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) added: “The American textile industry is battered by import competition, which will only get worse when quotas are gone. To fight back, we need new ideas, new organization and a new resolve. The National Council of Textile Organizations serves all of these purposes. I am glad that it’s being formed and am proud to support it.”
NCTO has hired The Ferguson Group in order to increase the industry’s lobbying resources in Washington. The Ferguson Group is a bipartisan government relations firm that provides federal representation to more than 80 public and private entities in 20 states nationwide.
NCTO will be headquartered in Washington, DC, with an office also in Gastonia, NC.
