Posted March 23, 2017

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s been a productive, promising week in our Nation’s Capital for leaders of the U.S. textile industry, according to many with whom I spoke. They converged here for the National Council of Textile Organizations’ (NCTO’s) 14th Annual Meeting and, from where I sit, the outlook and optimism of executives on hand were as genuine as any I can remember from the last 20 or so years covering this group and its predecessor organization.

 

Chalk that up, perhaps, to the promise of an accelerated movement of manufacturing back to these shores, spurred of course by a new administration aimed at creating a better business-friendly environment with a strong focus on made in America. It’s early in a Trump administration, certainly, but invariably a hope for a stronger manufacturing base in the U.S. was expressed by a number of these leaders.

 

Perhaps that hope for a manufacturing renaissance manifested itself by the fact that nearly 150 people attended the meeting (cumulative over three days) – a record since the council was founded in 2004.

 

Armed with issues-driven talking points supplied by the NCTO, attendees spent much of Wednesday on Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers or their staffs. And, all in all, they came away with a feeling of positivity, despite the fact that healthcare reform, a Supreme Court confirmation hearing and hearings on wiretapping and leaks dominated much of the chatter Inside the Beltway this week.

 

“If I had to rank the visits on a scale of 1 to 10, I would say a 10,” said Mark Kent, CEO of wool-based yarn spinner Kentwool, Pickens, S.C. “I wasn’t expecting anything different and I would’ve been disappointed if it wasn’t because we were talking to our friends. But the best part about the meetings today was, in years past, we’ve gone up there and I’ve had to beg and plead, ‘don’t let this trade legislation pass, please help us if you can.’

 

“Today had a different air about it,” he continued. “It felt like a new age, where we now have the opportunity to really put forth some meaningful things and correct some mistakes, which we haven’t had a chance to do before. So I was very energized walking out today.”

 

Martha Miller, vice president of Business Development at APJeT, Inc., Morrisville, N.C., said she was equally encouraged. APJeT is a unique company that uses atmospheric plasma technology to change and enhance the surface properties of a wide variety of materials, beginning with but not limited to textiles.

 

“The administration seems supportive of the things that are important to the NCTO and the overall textile community, particularly around keeping American jobs here in manufacturing and textiles,” said Miller, whose group met with some of the North Carolina legislative delegation, including Sen. Richard Burr and Rep. Robert Pittenger. “They’re very supportive of the Berry Amendment, and they also support tax reform, especially for small businesses. And those are the items that are really important to us at APJeT as we seek to get our technology out there to allow larger manufacturers to invest in our technology.”

 

Bill Moody, owner of American-made circular knit manufacturer Vanguard Pai Lung, Monroe, N.C., said he is extremely optimistic that the reshoring movement will continue at a good clip, especially under President Trump. Asked where he thinks the industry is headed this year, he answered, “No comment. But where it’s headed in the future – we’re going to have a strong industry back in this country and hemisphere.”

 

“His health care plan needs to go through first,” he added. “And then I think we’re going to see the tax plan pass, and that’s going to do a lot for manufacturing. And then I think we’ll be on our way.”

 

Lowell Bivens, president & CEO of PHP Fibers, Scottsboro, Ala., said he believed his group’s message resonated with lawmakers from his state.

 

“We wanted to let them now that the textile industry is a very important part of our state and employs a lot of people in Alabama,” he said. “And I think they appreciate that fact and it’s clear that as the legislation comes up that could impact the textile industry, they will do anything they can to make sure it works in our favor.”

 

Bivens added that having a U.S. manufacturing advocate in the White House will only help the textile industry.

 

“The focus has been on regulation and barriers to manufacturing, and now the new administration is focused on job creation,” he said. “They know how to create jobs and a business environment that fosters investment, jobs and growth in the economy.”

 

Likewise, Marvin Smith, CEO of Shuford Yarns, Hickory, N.C., said he came away feeling that the next four years will be “pretty good” for the industry.

 

“I think everybody is pretty excited,” he said. “We’re cautiously optimistic. We’re seeing some business moving back. It’s not a large amount, but it’s enough to catch your eye and make you think that more is coming. But we think we’re in a good position right now.”

 

Henry Poston, CEO of Palmetto Synthetics, Kingstree, S.C., seemed similarly ecstatic.

 

“I’m more optimistic about the textile industry than I’ve been in probably 10 years,” he said. “We see a lot of good things going on. We’re really pleased what we’re seeing from the new administration.”

 

Though he initially opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Poston said he reached a point where he could support it once provisions pushed by the NCTO were included in the 12-country trade pact. But he added that he was “not upset” that Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal.

 

The Moore Company of Westerly, R.I., operates four divisions, three of which are in the textile business. So President & CEO Dana Barlow was particularly interested in meeting with legislators or their staffs on The Hill, he said.

 

“We had a very set agenda that the NCTO discussed with us and we approached each of the offices with that,” he said. “And we had very good receptions. We know there’s a lot going on down here right now, so whether or not they’ll ever get to any of these issues, we’ll see. But at least we put it on their windshield.”

 

And you can put him in the Trump camp, as well, he said. “It’s very exciting that he was elected,” Barlow said. “As a manufacturer who has had to deal with trade issues and barriers, it’s very encouraging. And just look at what the stock market has done since November 8.”

 

Cyril Guerin, president of Picanol America, Greenville, S.C., met with Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rep. Tom Price and with staff members for House reps Trey Gowdy and Jim Clyburn – all of South Carolina, of course.

 

“They all are fully aware of the difficulties that we face and I think they are pretty much behind the industry on all the key points we were discussing: a review of NAFTA; tax reform; infrastructure; and something I think is very important for our customers, the Berry Amendment,” he said. “It didn’t matter which side of the aisle they were on, they understood our issues very well. And I think they will support us.”

 

Guerin also is high on Trump’s U.S. manufacturing pitch and, if the sector does grow in the coming years, another big issue that currently plagues manufacturers will only get bigger, he said.

 

“It’s one thing to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., but it’s another to find the people to work in all those mills,” he said. “That’s the big challenge. Our customers already have tremendous difficulties finding qualified workers. But it’s a good problem to have, and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”