On Sunday, United States President Donald Trump reiterated his administration’s strategic emphasis on bolstering domestic manufacturing in critical, high-value sectors such as military equipment and advanced technology, rather than prioritizing industries like textiles and apparel.
Addressing reporters before boarding Air Force One in New Jersey, President Trump publicly endorsed recent statements made by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had asserted that a “booming textile industry” was not a fundamental requirement for the U.S. economy. This declaration had previously drawn criticism from the National Council of Textile Organizations.
“We’re not looking to make sneakers and T-shirts. We want to make military equipment. We want to make big things. We want to make, do the AI thing,” President Trump stated. “I’m not looking to make socks. We can do that very well in other locations. We are looking to do chips and computers and lots of other things, and tanks and ships.”
The President’s remarks emerge amidst increasing apprehension within the American apparel industry regarding his assertive trade policies. In response, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) issued a warning that tariffs continue to disproportionately burden the sector.
“With 97 per cent of the clothes and shoes we wear being imported, and with clothes and shoes already the most highly tariffed industry in the U.S., we need to focus on common sense solutions that can move the needle,” said Steve Lamar, AAFA President, in a statement. “More tariffs will only mean higher input costs for U.S. manufacturers and higher prices that will hurt lower income consumers.”
Mr. Trump’s protectionist trade agenda has consistently been a cornerstone of his economic policy, often unsettling global markets. On Friday, the President reignited trade tensions with the European Union by proposing a 50 per cent tariff on EU goods, effective June 1. He also issued a caution that Apple Inc. could face a 25 per cent import tax on iPhones sold within the U.S.
However, in a potential gesture of conciliation, Mr. Trump extended the tariff deadline on EU goods to July 9, providing an opportunity for negotiations with the 27-member bloc.
President Trump, who secured victories in both the 2016 and 2024 elections with substantial support from blue-collar voters, has consistently framed his trade and industrial policies as a corrective measure to decades of manufacturing decline in the U.S.
His administration has imposed broad tariffs on a diverse range of imported goods since 2018, aiming to incentivize domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains — particularly in industries deemed critical to national security.
While proponents argue that these measures have stimulated investment in certain sectors, critics warn that tariffs have resulted in elevated costs for businesses and consumers, especially in industries that heavily depend on complex international supply chains, such as clothing and footwear.
