NCTO Commends President Trump for Taking Action to Close De Minimis Loophole for Commercial Shipments Globally
July 30, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of U.S. textiles from fiber, yarn and fabrics to finished sewn products, issued the following statement from President and CEO Kim Glas today, regarding President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending de minimis treatment for all commerce shipments globally, effective August 29.
Statement from President and CEO Kim Glas
“On behalf of the U.S. textile industry, we commend President Trump for using his executive authority to close the de minimis loophole for all global commercial shipments, effective August 29.
“For eight years, NCTO has led critical efforts to close the de minimis backdoor pipeline for cheap, subsidized, and often illegal, toxic and unethical imports—half of which are estimated to be textiles and apparel. Every day, 4 million de minimis packages flood into the U.S., undermining American manufacturing, evading inspection, and allowing forced labor-made goods from Xinjiang, China as well as illicit fentanyl to reach consumers unchecked.
“The de minimis mechanism has functioned as a black box for low-cost, subsidized, and unethical Chinese imports and undermined the competitiveness of the U.S. textile industry—a key contributor to the workforce and the U.S. economy.
“In the face of the rising flood of de minimis shipments, NCTO doubled-down on advocating for comprehensive de minimis reform and proudly joined the Coalition to Close the De Minimis Loophole, representing a wide range of American voices committed to ending the de minimis crisis, including manufacturers, business associations, labor unions, law enforcement, families of fentanyl victim groups, drug prevention organizations, consumer groups, and others.
“Today marks a significant milestone for all our efforts to repeal this harmful provision in U.S. trade law. We are grateful to President Trump for recognizing the severe impact of this loophole and validating that de minimis has caused widespread harm across businesses and communities, in the action he is taking today to repeal de minimis immediately.
“We thank the president and his administration for listening, acting, and standing with American manufacturers and workers. Today’s executive order is a game changer. It restores fairness for U.S. manufacturers, closes a major gateway for illegal and toxic goods, and lays the groundwork for reinvestment and job creation here at home.
“Coupled with the bipartisan legislation to codify de minimis repeal by July 2027, this action when implemented will slam the door shut on one of the most damaging trade loopholes in U.S. history.”
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NCTO is a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers.
- U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 471,046 in 2024.
- The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $63.9 billion in 2024.
- U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $28.0 billion in 2024.
- Capital expenditures for textiles and apparel production totaled $2.98 billion in 2022, the last year for which data is available.
CONTACT:
Kristi Ellis
Vice President, Communications
National Council of Textile Organizations
kellis@ncto.org | 202.281.9305
