The industry is particularly important to some regions of the United States and provides jobs to many persons who would have few or no other alternatives for employment. The industry is a major contributor to the U.S. gross national product. Apparel manufacturing is the seventh largest manufacturing employer in Missouri. Employs about the same number of individuals as those employed by general contractors and operative builders. Imports require domestic manufacturers to be competitive, hence, better values may be available to the consumer, even on U.S.-made products.
More variety is available to the consumer.
Consumers bear no costs in protecting a particular industry from global competition. Variety may be limited because of restrictions on certain products from other countries. The textile and apparel industry will experience fewer negative effects, but other industries may feel the pinch as other countries retaliate by not buying U.S. products or by imposing tariffs and quotas. Consumers now have a way to tell where a garment was made. Manufacturers may label small items like stockings on the package rather than on the actual item.