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. The surviving companies are mostly family-run and privately held, consistently steering money back into their businesses to pay for expensive new equipment and automation to remain competitive. Many produce items for the U.S. military, which requires some clothing to be American made, or for companies whose stated mission is just that. In 2022, just 2.9 percent of the apparel sold in the United States was made domestically, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association.
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