08/15/2025
Rep. Tim Moore tours global thread maker American & Efird
MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. – This morning, freshman U.S. Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC) visited American & Efird (A&E), a leading textile manufacturer, to meet with company executives and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing North Carolina’s textile industry.
A&E, part of the Elevate Textiles group of companies, is a manufacturer and distributor of premium industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles for the apparel, automotive components, home furnishings, medical supplies, footwear and other industrial sectors. With a global footprint boasting dozens of manufacturing facilities and service centers, A&E’s products are manufactured in more than 22 countries, distributed in some 50, and sold in more than 100 nations worldwide. The company employs more than 10,000 people directly and in joint ventures.
The meeting, attended by A&E’s leadership team, focused on local job creation, global competition and the impact of federal policy on manufacturing. During the visit, Rep. Moore – whose district includes several major textile companies – toured A&E’s historic Dyeing & Finishing facility and heard from Elevate Textiles CEO Jeff Pritchett and other executives about the company’s 134-year legacy, recent investments in revitalizing local operations and ongoing workforce needs. A&E leaders emphasized their commitment to local manufacturing, sustainability and ethical business practices while also highlighting the need to hire at least 50 more people to meet growing demand.
In a follow-up interview, Rep. Moore spoke to eTextileCommunications.com about the broader policy landscape. Rep. Moore, a Kings Mountain, N.C., native, discussed the importance of tariffs in leveling the playing field for American manufacturers, particularly in response to unfair trade practices by China.
“Most businesses understand the need for tariffs, especially when dealing with China,” Rep. Moore said. “They’ve engaged in dumping cheap goods, patent infringement and other hostile acts. Tariffs are a tool to get them to stop cheating and to protect American jobs.”
Rep. Moore acknowledged that tariffs can contribute to short-term inflationary pressures, but argued that the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. “There may be some short-term pain, but we can’t keep going the way we have. We need fair trade, not just free trade. The American worker ends up getting hurt when we let other countries bring in goods tariff-free while our exports face barriers,” he said.
He also discussed how fentanyl is linked to the closure of the de minimis loophole. He noted that fentanyl has been a significant factor in recent policy changes, specifically mentioning the recent closure of the de minimis loophole, which previously allowed small shipments – often from China – to enter the U.S. with minimal inspection and no tariffs. Rep. Moore said that addressing this loophole is crucial, as it has been exploited to bring in dangerous substances such as fentanyl, contributing to the opioid crisis and harming American manufacturing. Closing the loophole is seen as an important step in both combating the flow of illegal drugs and supporting domestic industries, he said.
Rep. Moore praised initiatives in District 14 such as the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College in Belmont, N.C., and its new Fiber Innovation Center, as well as the work of industry leaders in shaping effective trade policy. He emphasized the importance of targeting tariffs to countries such as China while supporting manufacturing in the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere.
Rep. Moore stressed the importance of staying committed to strengthening North Carolina’s textile sector through smart policy, investment and collaboration between industry and government. As Rep. Moore put it, “Maybe we ought to pay a little more for products made by Americans if it means creating jobs here and supporting our communities.”
The Congressman also toured Valdese Weavers in Valdese, N.C., on Thursday.
