Von Der Leyen's State of the Union address noted Europe needs to rebalance unfair trade, cut red tape, and strengthen its industrial and strategic autonomy.
But Euratex said it regretted that industrial competitiveness failed to muster as much attention as other issues in the address.
The trade body is calling on the Commission to match the political commitments with an equal sense of urgency on industrial competitiveness, and to place manufacturing sectors, such as textiles, more firmly at the centre of its agenda in the months ahead.
"Europe cannot build a strong defence, lead the green and digital transitions, or protect its social model on a weakening industrial base. Competitiveness is not just one chapter of the European project – it is the foundation all the others are built on; when we get that right, everything else becomes possible.", states Dirk Vantyghem, director general, Euratex.
Specifically, Euratex is urging action on trade-defence measures including stronger customs enforcement and imports monitoring for textile products, with particular regard to the trade deficit with China, which has "reached a tipping point."

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