Editorial: Changing patterns of textile and apparel sourcing: which country will be the next China?

9 pages, published in Issue 184, February 2017   Report price: Euro 305.00; US$ 400.00

Global patterns of textile and apparel sourcing for the US and European markets are set for change following the election of Donald Trump as the US president and the likely exit of the UK from the EU. In this report, Robin Anson examines the trends in US textile and apparel imports in 2016 and identifies those supplying countries which are making gains in the US import market and those whose shares are falling. Also, he analyses the impact of changes in average import prices on sourcing patterns. Furthermore, he comments on the likely impact of the end of US involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), and speculates on what might happen to sourcing patterns if the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) is repealed or discontinued in accordance with President Trump's stated wishes. In particular, he identifies supplying countries which stand to benefit from a worsening of the competitive position of Mexico and suggests how this might impact on the US textile industry – which sells a significant proportion of its yarns and fabrics to apparel producers in South and Central America. Moreover, he raises questions about the future of sourcing from China in the light of rising labour costs but describes ways in which the Chinese authorities are relocating production to lower cost locations in China and building the necessary infrastructure  including rail links – in order to maintain the Chinese textile and apparel industry's competitiveness.

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