Building Closer Relationships

What Is The COTTON USA Sourcing Program?

The COTTON USA Sourcing Program is a way to:

• Get the most up-to-date information on the business opportunities available in the Western Hemisphere.
  
  
• Develop relationships throughout the entire apparel supply chain from the U.S. yarn and fabric supplier to Andean and CBI garment manufactures to the U.S. apparel retailer.
  
  
• The purpose of the COTTON USA Sourcing Program is to facilitate business relationships and information between the U.S. cotton textile industry and garment manufacturing companies throughout the Western Hemisphere. Through our offices in San Jose, Costa Rica, Bogota, Colombia, and in Washington, D.C., the COTTON USA Sourcing Program is the most comprehensive information source for increased business in the Western Hemisphere cotton textile and apparel supply chain.
  
  
• The COTTON USA Sourcing Program began in January 2000 in anticipation of the passage and implementation of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBPTA). Cotton Council International partnered with a group of U.S. textile mills to sponsor the COTTON USA Sourcing Program. In 2003, following the passage of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Erradication Act (ATPDEA), the Sourcing Program was expanded to include countries in the Andean region. Funded through direct contribution from a group of progressive U.S. textile mills, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Cotton Incorporated, the Program provides regular information on preferential trade agreements, business developments, and sources of quick, quality, duty free products.
  

Who Operates the COTTON USA Sourcing Program?

The COTTON USA Sourcing Program is managed by Cotton Council International (CCI), a non-profit trade association headquartered in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to promote the export of U.S. cotton and cotton textile products. CCI is the international division of the National Cotton Council (NCC), the central industry association representing all seven segments of the U.S. cotton industry: farmers, ginners, warehousemen, cotton seed crushers, merchants, cooperatives, and U.S. textile manufacturers. Each of these groups pay voluntary dues based on a per-bale or per-ton-of-seed basis. One of its important functions of the National Cotton Council is communicating the U.S. cotton industry's policy positions to the U.S. government. The NCC has been closely involved with the passage and implementation of the CBTPA, ATPDEA, DR-CAFTA, Colombian and Peruvian TPA and other trade policy issues affecting the United States cotton industry.


Cotton Council International has offices in Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong as well as representatives in Sao Paulo, Osaka, Taipei, Dusseldorf, Manila, Bangkok, Beijing, London, Istanbul, Jakarta and our Sourcing Program representatives in San Jose, Costa Rica and Bogota, Colombia. CCI is involved in developing both business to business relationships and international consumer promotions to increase the worldwide consumption of U.S. cotton. Our funding comes from our parent, the National Cotton Council as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other U.S. cotton industry associations. Cotton Incorporated, is a large financial supporter of Cotton Council International Programs.

What Services Does the COTTON USA Sourcing Program Offer?

The COTTON USA Sourcing Program sponsors a series of events throughout the year to build closer relationships between the textile and apparel businesses of the United States and the CBI and Andean countries.

The COTTON USA Sourcing Program has sponsored several private Seminars and Trade Fairs throughout the CBI and Andean region. These events involve Seminars with leading experts on sourcing issues. Following the Seminars are private trade fairs in which CBI and Andean executives have pre-scheduled appointments with U.S. yarn and fabric suppliers. U.S. cotton apparel retailers and importers often participate in these events.

The COTTON USA Sourcing Program participates in various Trade Shows focused on the CBI and Andean region. A large space is taken at Colombiatex in Medellin, Colombia and the CBI Apparel Souring Show in Guatemala City for U.S. yarn and fabrics suppliers to exhibit their products. In addition, CCI participates at various trade shows in both the United States and in the CBI and Andean region to provide contacts and information to apparel executives attending these shows, such as Material World in Miami.

A quarterly Information Bulletin is delivered to executives throughout the Western Hemisphere featuring updates on the details of the CBTPA and other trade agreements, full package manufacturing and technical information on the advantages of using U.S. cotton. Each issue features a different aspect of the U.S. textile mills such as the products produced, international sales personnel, and each mill's manufacturing capabilities.

How to Get Involved in the COTTON USA Sourcing Program?

To get more information on the COTTON USA Sourcing Program and how you can participate, please contact CCI’s representatives in San Jose, Costa Rica, Bogota, Colombia, or Washington, D.C. They can be reached at:

Floribeth González-Schuyler
Regional Manager
Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
COTTON USA Sourcing Program Program
Cond. Via Las Palmas No. 10
Contiguo a 2do. Cementerio
Escazu Centro, Escazu
Tel: (506) 289-8680 / 288-2626
Fax: (506) 289-5124
E-Mail: fschuyler@cotton.org

Nina Maldonado
Regional Manager
Andean Region
COTTON USA Sourcing Program
Carrera 14 No. 94A – 44 Of. 402
Bogota, Colombia
Tel: (57) 1-623-3132
Fax: (57) 1-623-3076
E-mail:ninamaldonado@cable.net.co

Vaughn Jordan
Regional Director
Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
Cotton Council International
1521 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
USA
Tel: (202) 745-7805
Fax: (202) 483-4040
E-Mail: vjordan@cotton.org