International Developments and the U.S. Apparel Industry

This article summarizes the impact on the U.S. apparel industry of international trade flows from 1972 to 1976 and discusses several of the underlying reasons behind the continued decline in its international competitiveness. The article also describes the even larger competitive toll on the major European countries' apparel industries during the period and what polices their governments followed. The basic conclusion of the study this article summarizes is that without major changes in policy and strategy at both government and industry levels, the international competitive position of the U.S. apparel industry will continue to deteriorate.