BOSTON, July 25, 2005 -- Responding to a press release from Representative Bob Inglis regarding possible CAFTA textile "fixes" affecting pocketing fabrics, implementation of cumulation, and administration of the Nicaraguan TPL, Karl Spilhaus, president of the National Textile Association, said, "We are aware that the Administration is attempting to secure votes by promising improvements that, if they are ever realized, might make CAFTA less objectionable to certain U.S. textile manufacturers, but we have seen nothing that would make NTA withdraw its opposition to CAFTA".

Spilhaus continued, "Despite these proposed eleventh hour improvements, which relate to treatment of pocketing fabrics, cumulation, and administration of tariff preference levels for Nicaragua, the agreement is still loaded with provisions that will allow Chinese and other non-regional fabrics to enter the U.S. in garment form, duty free, at the expense of U.S. manufacturers and U.S. jobs. NTA opposes exempting any garments from the rules of the agreement; in CAFTA garments that are important markets for NTA member companies, such as brassieres, are exempt from the rules of origin."

"We opposed this agreement when it was unveiled 18 months ago. This flawed arrangement will cost more American textile jobs," said Spilhaus.

The National Textile Association represents 132 member companies, the majority of which are directly engaged in the manufacturing of fabrics in the United States and is the largest organization of fabric-makers in the U.S.

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