The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s recently appointed chief textiles and apparel negotiator, Katherine “Katie” White, made her inaugural official trip to North Carolina—a central hub of American textile companies—to meet with several member firms of the National Council of Textile Organization (NCTO) and learn about the impact of trade policies on this domestic supply chain.
White, who previously served as International Trade Policy Advisor on the House Committee on Ways and Means before joining the USTR last month, visited six plants: American & Efird, Parkdale Mills/U.S. Cotton, TSG Finishing, Shuford Yarns, Schneider Mills and Unifi.
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During her visit, textile executives showcased the sector’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, emphasizing how the domestic sector makes “important contributions” to the U.S. economy—particularly by supplying the U.S. military with 8,000 products annually as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) for national health and safety. White also participated in an industry roundtable discussion at Gaston College’s Textile Center where executives discussed the competitiveness of the domestic industry.
“We want to sincerely thank Katie, who is taking on the role of chief textiles and apparel negotiator at a critical time for this industry,” said Kim Glas, NCTO’s president and CEO. “We appreciate her first visit in the new role is to see and meet with our industry firsthand. The U.S. textile industry is one of the most dynamic, innovative industries in the U.S. economy, and our co-production chain with our Western Hemisphere trade partners is essential. Trade policies are critical to this manufacturing sector and workforce.”