DHS Issues Final Rule Covering Buy American Requirements for Textile & Apparel Products

(Textile World – James A. Morrissey)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued its final rule covering Buy American requirements for its purchases of textile and apparel products under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The agency adopted, without change, its interim rule issued last August 17, and in effect rejected a number of objections from textile manufacturers, organized labor and others.

DHS said it received comments from 26 organizations and individuals and members of Congress who suggested a number of changes, as they felt the interim rule did not carry out the full intent of the legislation. Commentators called for changes in the de minimis exceptions to the rule, the definition of national security interests and the listing of some of the trading partners with which the United States has preferential trade agreements; and they also called for the DHS to “mirror” the Berry Amendment, which covers textile and apparel purchases by the Department of Defense.

Read more here. The text of the final rule is available in the Federal Register for June 9, Vol.75, No.110/Rules and Regulations, here.