NAFTA And The Decline Of The Textile Industry

178 Words1 Pages
At the time of NAFTA implementation, the textile and apparel industries were on the decline. Employment declined in textiles as the industry faces intense international competition, and productivity boost through new technology improvement. The apparel sector, which is heavily dependent on low-skilled labor, was not internationally competitive for U.S. Given this fact, any relief of imports from Mexico, a low-wage country, were a further threat to the textile industry. The implementation of NAFTA immediately eliminated tariffs which give access for U.S. producers in denim, underwear, sewing thread, and many household furnishings. NAFTA tariff cuts and rules of origin give U.S. exporters greater market access and a price advantage up to 35%