{
  "id": 8461621,
  "title": "Euratex urges action on industrial competitiveness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/euratex-urges-action-on-industrial-competitiveness",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-18T11:29:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Finance",
    "slug": "yahoo-finance",
    "url": "https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/euratex-urges-action-industrial-competitiveness-112919958.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a bid to reinforce Europe's industrial competitiveness, Euratex, the trade body, has urged swift action from the Commission. The group's concerns were not adequately addressed in Von Der Leyen's State of the Union address, which emphasized rebalancing unfair trade, reducing red tape, and enhancing the nation's industrial autonomy. Euratex is advocating for the Commission to turn political commitments into concrete measures, placing manufacturing sectors like textiles at the forefront of its agenda.\n\nEuratex Director General, Dirk Vantyghem, emphasized that competitiveness is the bedrock of all other European projects. Without a robust industrial base, Europe cannot achieve its defense, green, and digital transitions, or uphold its social model. Specifically, the body is pushing for stronger trade-defence measures, including enhanced customs enforcement and scrutiny of textile imports, particularly in light of the widening trade deficit with China.\n\nVantyghem also stressed the need to lighten the administrative burden on SMEs, which are disproportionately affected by the complex and sometimes conflicting EU rules. Simplifying regulations could significantly boost their competitiveness. The Confederation further calls for targeted support for the textile industry, recognizing its strategic importance in Europe's green, digital, and defense transitions. It also urges preference for technical and defense-related textiles contracts for the region.\n\nEuratex has welcomed the progress in boosting EU-Canada relations, having recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Canada's textile and apparel industry representatives. The trade body stands ready to leverage this cooperation as European-Canadian industrial ties deepen. Lastly, Euratex supports the launch of a new Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs initiative, pledging to contribute its expertise to ensure it provides tangible opportunities for young people in the textile and apparel value chain.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}