Commerce Secretary Evans tells industry to expect decision on China safeguard November 17.

BOSTON, November 14, 2003 -- The National Textile Association reports a successful 149th Annual Meeting, November 9-11, in Ponte Vedra, Florida. The over one hundred attendees mirrored the geographic breadth of NTA membership, coming from 14 states and from Quebec.

"This group is charged up and ready to challenge the status quo in Washington," said NTA Chairman WILLIAM GIBLIN, president, Tweave, Inc. in Norton, Mass. "We cannot continue to have give away our textile industry in these lop-sided trade deals," he continued, elaborating on the meeting theme "Free Trade for US."

The featured speakers at the Monday business meeting included Commerce Secretary DONALD EVANS who told the textile industry to expect a decision on China safeguard November 17. Be sure to check the NTA website, www.nationaltextile.org for updates on this important issue. AUGUSTINE TANTILLO, Executive Director of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) presented a rousing call for American manufacturing to press the Administration and Congress to act on the flood of imports from China which threaten to wipe out the American manufacturing sector.

The need for prompt action on the China threat and more helpful rules of origin in trade agreements dominated the discussion at the Sunday NTA Board of Government meeting. NTA has informed U.S. Special Textile Negotiator, DAVID SPOONER and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, JIM LEONARD, both of whom were at the meeting in Florida, that NTA cannot support a U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that includes Tariff Preference Levels (TPLs) or any other provisions that allow fabric from non CAFTA partner countries to get CAFTA benefits.

Tuesday morning panelists NEIL TRAUTWEIN, National Association of Manufacturers, and BONNIE BROOK, Stephenson and Brook personnel consultants, presented information on controlling healthcare and workers compensation costs that will help make U.S. manufacturers competitive. Notes from their presentations are available from the NTA office upon request.

The Tuesday program continued with a roundtable discussion of the state and future of the U.S. textile industry, moderated by NTA Vice-chairman JONATHAN STEVENS, Ames Textile Corporation and included a presentation of "The U.S. Textile Industry in 2005" from JANE JOHNSON of Unifi.

The entire program was kicked off with cocktails and dinner Sunday evening, at which JIM FITZGIBBONS and JONATHAN STEVENS appealed to attendees for support for the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Mass.

The 150th Annual Meeting of the National Textile Association is scheduled for September 19-21, 2004, in Cooperstown, New York.

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