FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 27, 2014

House Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn Visits South Carolina Textile Manufacturer DAK Americas

DAK Americas, Monks Corner, SC- 5/27/14

 L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn; Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Manager, DAK Americas

GOOSE CREEK, SC — Today, Congressman Jim Clyburn toured DAK America’s textile manufacturing facility in Goose Creek, S.C., to learn more about the company’s fiber production operations which are used in numerous downstream apparel and technical textile applications. The visit is part of the National Council of Textile Organizations’ (NCTO) “Hill to the Mill” program which gives members of Congress an opportunity to see firsthand innovations and new investments in the textile manufacturing sector.  

DAK Americas is a leading employer in South Carolina, where it employs nearly 1,000 people in highly skilled jobs including full service and contract positions.  DAK Americas is a fast growing company with core businesses comprised of Polyester Staple Fibers (PSF), PET Container Resins (PET) and Terephthalic Acid (TPA). The company has a growing presence in its Specialty Polymers and GreenPET (recycled and renewable raw materials) businesses.

“We were honored to host Congressman Clyburn’s visit to our plant, and to show him the investments we are making in new products and technology in an effort to support U.S. textile jobs,” said Jorge Young, President and CEO of DAK Americas. “We are proud of the significant contributions our facilities and workers make to the state of South Carolina and are very pleased that Congressman Clyburn would take time to better familiarize himself with our company.”

The U.S. textile manufacturing sector in general has continued to see investment and growth over the past year. The U.S. has become an increasingly attractive option for textile investment due to competitive energy, transportation, and fiber costs. Beyond these basic economic factors, a key driver for the new investment surge has been the success of “yarn forward” origin requirements included in every major U.S. free trade agreement.  

DAK Americas, Monks Corner, SC- 5/27/14

L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn; Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Manager, DAK Americas

DAK Americas, Monks Corner, SC- 5/27/14

L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn; Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Manager, DAK Americas

L-R: Mark Ruday- Sr. VP Fibers, DAK Americas; Todd Ethington-Government Affairs, NCTO;

Antonio Garza- Cooper River Site Mgr., DAK Americas; Congressman Jim Clyburn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May, 21, 2014

NCTO Presents at TTIP Negotiating Round in Washington, DC, Meets with EU Counterpart EURATEX

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) made a formal stakeholder presentation at the 5^th negotiating round of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in Arlington, Virginia. The presentation highlighted key U.S. textile industry positions including the need for a yarn forward rule of origin, and the preservation of U.S. government procurement regulations such as the Berry Amendment.

Earlier in the week, NCTO staff met with EU counterpart, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX). EURATEX is the voice of the European textile and apparel sector, employing 1.6 million workers. The discussions reviewed the two groups’ overall goals in regard to TTIP along with whether there is the potential to reach a joint U.S./EU textile industry position on specific TTIP issues. 

“The effort to establish a comprehensive free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union marks the first time U.S. manufacturers and exporters may be able to enjoy FTA access to an overseas market that rivals our own,” said Augustine Tantillo, NCTO President and CEO.  “We look forward to a productive and collaborative relationship with EURATEX and other European industry groups in hopes of reaching mutually beneficial positions under the TTIP.”  

TTIP is an effort to establish a free trade bloc between the United States and the 28 member nations of the European Union. The TTIP negotiations present a unique set of opportunities and challenges for the U.S. textile industry.  While the U.S. and EU textile and apparel markets may be similar in market size and cost structure, the U.S. trade deficit with the EU in those products totaled almost $3 billion in 2013. 

—

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), headquartered in Washington, DC with an office in Gastonia, NC, is the national trade association representing the entire spectrum of the textile sector. For more information about the U.S. textile industry, view NCTO’s website at www.ncto.org.

PDF: NCTO Presents at TTIP Negotiating Round in Washington, DC, Meets with EU Counterpart EURATEX