The Biden administration is set to deepen its engagement with the domestic manufacturing sector as high-ranking trade officials prepare to address the National Council of Textile Organizations’ (NCTO) 22nd Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. On April 16, 2026, Senior Counselor to the President Dr Peter Navarro and Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Rick Switzer will outline the federal government’s latest trade agenda. The briefing comes at a critical juncture for an industry that saw $60.9 billion in shipments last year, as policymakers look to tighten the integration of Western Hemisphere supply chains.

Strengthening regional trade hubs under USMCA and CAFTA-DR

A central focus of the summit involves the strategic acceleration of on shoring and nearshoring initiatives. Industry executives and policymakers will examine how existing frameworks, specifically the USMCA and CAFTA-DR, can be leveraged to insulate the textile supply chain from global volatility. With US fibre, textile, and apparel exports reaching $27 billion in 2025, the discussions aim to refine government procurement rules and ‘Made in America’ mandates. These policy levers are increasingly viewed as essential for sustaining the nearly 453,000 jobs currently supported by the domestic textile workforce.

Capital investment and the future of domestic production

The meet also serves as a platform to evaluate the long-term viability of recent industrial investments. Following a year where capital expenditures for textile and apparel production hit $5.5 billion, the industry is transitioning toward more specialized, high-value manufacturing. While Chuck Hall, Chairman, NCTO will open the session with a state-of-the-industry report, the presence of top-tier federal counsellors indicates a shift toward more aggressive trade enforcement and market positioning. This alignment between private sector leadership and the executive branch underscores a unified effort to protect domestic interests against shifting global trade dynamics.