NCTO Asks Biden to Make PPE Subject to Berry Amendment, Continue Tariffs on China
The National Council of Textile Organizations is asking the incoming Joe Biden administration to create a stable market for domestic production of medical gloves, gowns, masks and face shields, both by requirements and supporting demand. The Berry Amendment, which covers military uniforms, should apply to federal purchases of medical protective gear purchases, CEO Kim Glas said Dec. 3 in a news release. She also said the federal government should sign long-term federal contracts for personal protective equipment, or PPE.
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“Our overreliance on China for these essential products failed to meet our needs during a time of crisis. That can never happen again; we must onshore and diversify these critical supply chains moving forward,” she said.
The trade group also asked the new administration to continue to support tariffs on China, saying the textile industry has been hurt “by predatory trade practices,” such as government subsidies, forced labor, currency manipulation and weak environmental standards. “We need to appropriately punish countries that engage in unfair and illegal practices while rewarding companies that invest in the United States for critical materials like PPE, and work to further strengthen our alliances with our existing free trade agreement and trade preference partner countries,” Glas said.