Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Feldman and Staff Meeting with National Council of Textile Organizations

Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Peter Feldman and staff will be meeting with the National Council of Textile Organizations on March 18, 2019. Attendees will include: Mike Sheldon, President and CEO of Valdese Weavers; Don Vavala, Senior Director of Government Affairs, W.L. Gore and Associates; Hardy Poole, National Council of Textile Organizations.

Rhode Island Company Awarded Army and Air Force Parka Contract

Hyman Brickle & Son Inc., doing business as Northwest Woolen Mills, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, has been awarded a $9,736,800 firm-fixed-price, definite quantity contract for extreme cold weather parkas. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is an eight-month contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with a Nov. 9, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-C-0007).

Save the Date, 10th Triennial Flock School July 31-August 2, 2019

Join with other industry members on the beautiful University of Massachusetts campus for the 10th triennial American Flock Association FLOCK SCHOOL. The entire flocking process will be covered from choice of flock, substrate, and adhesive to coating and application techniques, as well as drying, curing, and post treatments. Break out sessions will address specific needs of the attendees. READ MORE.

Loro Piana to use Directa Plus graphene technology

Directa Plus, a producer and supplier of graphene nanoplatelets-based products, has signed an exclusive agreement with Italian high-end clothing and fabrics producer Loro Piana for the commercialisation of Loro Piana fabrics and garments enriched by the company’s G+ technology. ... READ MORE.

Army Coat Contract Awarded

Aurora Industries LLC, Camuy, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $18,672,261 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for coats for the Army Combat Uniform and Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a two-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Sept. 3, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1137).

United States Will Terminate GSP Designation of India and Turkey

On March 4, 2091, At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced that the United States intends to terminate India’s and Turkey’s designations as beneficiary developing countries under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program because they no longer comply with the statutory eligibility criteria.

India’s termination from GSP follows its failure to provide the United States with assurances that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors. Turkey’s termination from GSP follows a finding that it is sufficiently economically developed and should no longer benefit from preferential market access to the United States market.

By statute, these changes may not take effect until at least 60 days after the notifications to Congress and the governments of India and Turkey, and will be enacted by a Presidential Proclamation.

Background

Under the United States GSP program, certain products can enter the United States duty-free if beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria established by Congress. GSP criteria include, among others, respecting arbitral awards in favor of United States citizens or corporations, combating child labor, respecting internationally recognized worker rights, providing adequate and effective intellectual property protection, and providing the United States with equitable and reasonable market access. Countries can also be graduated from the GSP program depending on factors related to economic development.

India

The United States launched an eligibility review of India’s compliance with the GSP market access criterion in April 2018. India has implemented a wide array of trade barriers that create serious negative effects on United States commerce. Despite intensive engagement, India has failed to take the necessary steps to meet the GSP criterion.

Turkey

The United States designated Turkey as a GSP beneficiary developing country in 1975. An increase in Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, declining poverty rates, and export diversification, by trading partner and by sector, are evidence of Turkey’s higher level of economic development.

The Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements

On March 1, 2019, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer delivered President Trump’s Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report to Congress, outlining how the Administration’s trade policies are benefitting American workers and contributing to the strongest economy in decades.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the United States is pursuing trade policies that are more favorable to American workers,” said Ambassador Lighthizer. “In just two years, we have significantly re-written major trade deals with Korea, Mexico, and Canada. We have undertaken dramatic new enforcement efforts to stop unfair trading practices by China and other countries. We are aggressively enforcing U.S. trade laws, including by bringing cases under trade agreements, relevant U.S. laws, and at the WTO. We are ensuring that countries receiving benefits under the GSP program live up to eligibility standards set by Congress. These actions and many others are contributing to a stronger U.S. economy, which has generated more jobs and higher wages for American workers.”

To continue these economic gains, in 2019 the Trump Administration is urging Congress to approve the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and is launching new trade negotiations with Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. In addition, the Trump Administration will continue to press China to address long-standing U.S. concerns about unfair trade practices, defend America’s interests at the World Trade Organization, and vigorously enforce U.S. trade laws.

“Our goal is to ensure that hard work and innovation are rewarded, while unfair trade practices and illegal government subsidies are punished,” the report states.

The full report can be viewed here.

A fact sheet can be viewed here.

Background:

Congress requires the U.S. Trade Representative to submit the President’s Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report by March 1 each year. The Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report were prepared according to guidelines established under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.