The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has welcomed a bipartisan effort in the US House of Representatives calling for stronger customs enforcement to combat fraud, illegal transshipment and tariff evasion in textile and apparel imports.
In a letter signed by 16 members of Congress, lawmakers urged the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen enforcement measures and provide additional resources to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in order to protect domestic textile manufacturers from illegal trade practices.
The initiative was led by House Textile Caucus co-chairs David Rouzer and Adriano Espaillat, who emphasized the need for more aggressive enforcement of customs laws as textile imports continue to grow.
Lawmakers Target Customs Fraud and Tariff Evasion
According to the congressional letter, the US textile industry has faced decades of challenges stemming from customs fraud, illegal transshipment schemes and tariff evasion practices that undermine domestic manufacturing and employment.
Lawmakers noted that more than 100 countries export textiles and apparel to the United States, with annual imports exceeding $100 billion, making the sector particularly vulnerable to trade violations.The letter highlighted that the textile sector remains one of the largest contributors to US customs revenue. During fiscal year 2024, the United States collected approximately $13.2 billion in textile-related duties and fees, representing nearly 17% of all customs duties collected.
Meanwhile, the US International Trade Commission reported that textile duties collected during calendar year 2025 had already reached $25 billion, a figure expected to increase further under current tariff policies.
Industry Calls for Comprehensive Enforcement Program
The House Textile Caucus described customs fraud and tariff evasion as widespread problems and called on DHS to implement a comprehensive textile enforcement strategy.
Among the recommendations included in the letter are:
- Revoking trade privileges for companies violating customs regulations
- Publishing the names of repeat offenders
- Increasing penalties for customs fraud and tariff evasion
- Expanding audits and laboratory testing of imported products
- Strengthening verification of free trade agreement claims
- Releasing enforcement data and statistics more quickly
Lawmakers also expressed concerns over import practices involving major textile suppliers, particularly China and Vietnam, which together account for more than 35% of US textile and apparel imports.
NCTO Praises Bipartisan Support for US Textile Industry
NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas praised the congressional initiative, describing it as a critical step toward protecting American textile manufacturing jobs and ensuring fair competition.Glas said the letter sends a strong signal that customs fraud, illegal transshipment and tariff evasion must be addressed urgently, arguing that such practices undermine legitimate manufacturers, weaken trade agreements and cost the US Treasury billions of dollars in lost revenue.
The NCTO believes stronger customs enforcement will help create a more level playing field for domestic textile producers while supporting investment, job creation and long-term competitiveness across the US textile and apparel supply chain.
