The U.S. garment industry argues that free trade will help the sector, which employs three million people, including designers and retail workers. In Congress, though, the debate over whether free trade imperils manufacturing employment has made the Pacific trade pact a contentious issue.
U.S. negotiators defend their position. Trevor Kincaid, a deputy assistant U.S. trade representative, said the deal “will deliver new opportunities for American-based businesses, including opportunities related to textiles and apparel in Vietnam.” The administration, he said, has “a single-minded focus on getting [the] best possible deal for American workers and exports.”