NCTO Elects New Leadership: Signals for U.S. Textile Policy and Supply Chain Shifts

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) completed its annual leadership election during its meeting held April 14-16, 2026. The organization, which represents the entire U.S. textile supply chain from fiber to finished sewn products, elected Amy Bircher Bruyn as Chair for fiscal year 2026 and Jay Todd as Vice Chair. This leadership change arrives at a pivotal moment when the American textile industry is navigating trade policy uncertainties and supply chain restructuring. The new leaders' backgrounds will likely influence NCTO's advocacy priorities in the coming year.

Leadership Transition and Industry Context

Amy Bircher Bruyn, the newly elected Chair, is the CEO and founder of MMI Textiles, a company known for its specialty textile products. Jay Todd was elected as Vice Chair, though his specific industry background was not detailed in the announcement. NCTO's membership spans the full spectrum of textile manufacturing, including spinning, weaving, dyeing, and garment assembly. The election comes amid ongoing adjustments to U.S. import tariffs on certain textile products and a broader push for domestic manufacturing reshoring. Labor costs, environmental regulations, and trade agreement terms remain top concerns for member companies.

Bruyn's background in specialty textiles suggests the organization may place greater emphasis on protecting high-value-added product categories and promoting innovation in technical fabrics. This could shift NCTO's lobbying focus toward stricter intellectual property enforcement and more favorable R&D tax credits for advanced textile technologies.

Policy Advocacy and Industry Implications

NCTO plays a central role in shaping U.S. textile policy through lobbying on rules of origin, anti-dumping investigations, free trade agreement provisions, and 'Made in America' standards for government procurement. The new leadership is expected to continue pushing for:
- Enhanced origin verification for imported textiles, particularly targeting transshipment via third countries to evade tariffs.
- Increased federal funding for automation and digitalization upgrades in domestic textile plants.
- Maintenance of preferential supply chain treatment under the USMCA framework.
- Environmental regulations that align with industry investment cycles and production realities.

For major textile exporting countries like China and India, NCTO's policy direction under the new team warrants close monitoring. If the organization intensifies calls for trade barriers against non-North American textile imports, it could affect export costs and market access for certain categories. Additionally, technical standard disputes in specialty textiles—such as industrial fabrics and medical protective materials—may emerge as new battlegrounds.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Monitor NCTO's policy proposals in the second half of 2026, especially regarding rules of origin and anti-circumvention rules, to assess potential supply chain cost impacts. - For high-value specialty textile categories, consider establishing alternative sourcing channels with North American suppliers to hedge against possible market access restrictions. - Include price adjustment clauses in long-term contracts to mitigate risks from tariff policy changes.

For Exporters - Track NCTO's proposed modifications to USMCA regional value content requirements and evaluate whether existing products still qualify for preferential treatment. - For high-end synthetic fiber and specialty fabric categories targeting the U.S. market, strengthen technical compliance documentation to prepare for potentially stricter import scrutiny. - Explore setting up assembly or finishing operations in Mexico or Central America to leverage regional cumulation rules under trade agreements, thereby reducing tariff costs.