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#[1]alternate [2]Where Textile Mills Thrived, Remnants Battle for Survival [3]Skip to content[4]Skip to site index Global Economy * [5]U.K. Boosts Military Spending * [6]A Cautious Bank of England * [7]Europe's Economic Outlook * [8]E.C.B. Cuts Interest Rates You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Cotton fields under a partly cloudy sky. Cotton fields in front of Enfield Cotton Ginnery in Enfield, N.C., which cleans hundreds of bales of cotton for farmers in the surrounding community. Where Textile Mills Thrived, Remnants Battle for Survival Apparel makers in the Carolinas say trade policy must change because of a boom in tariff-free shipments to U.S. consumers from foreign manufacturers. Cotton fields in front of Enfield Cotton Ginnery in Enfield, N.C., which cleans hundreds of bales of cotton for farmers in the surrounding community.Credit... Supported by [9]SKIP ADVERTISEMENT * (BUTTON) Share full article * (BUTTON) * (BUTTON) By [10]Jordyn Holman Photographs by Audra Melton Jordyn Holman reported from textile factories and ginneries in North and South Carolina. * Published Jan. 21, 2024Updated Jan. 29, 2024 In his 40-year career, William Lucas has seen nearly every step in the erosion of the American garment industry. As general manager of Eagle Sportswear, a company in Middlesex, N.C., that cuts, sews and assembles apparel, he hopes to keep what's left of that industry intact. Mr. Lucas, 59, has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars training his workers to use more efficient techniques that come with financial bonuses to get employees to work faster. But he fears that his investments may be undermined by a U.S. trade rule. Image William Lucas wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans on a step outside the door to a building with aluminum siding. William Lucas has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars training his workers at Eagle Sportswear to use more efficient techniques. The rule, known as de minimis, allows foreign companies to ship goods worth less than $800 directly to U.S. customers while avoiding tariffs. Mr. Lucas and other textile makers in the Carolinas, once a textile hub, contend that the provision -- nearly a century old, but exploding in use -- motivates retailers to rely even more on foreign producers to keep prices low. Defenders of the rule say it is not to blame for a lack of U.S. competitiveness. But domestic manufacturers say it benefits China in particular at the expense of American manufacturers and workers. Image Irma Salazar working on an order of shorts at Eagle Sportswear. The company pays bonuses for meeting production goals. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. 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