Detroit Manufacturer Visits D.C., Urges Trade Reform to Save American Jobs and Consumer Affordability

Detroit Manufacturer Joins National Retail Federation in Washington to Urge Tariff Reform

Detroit, MI – July 10, 2025 – This week, Nati Mazor, CEO of Reed Sportswear Manufacturing Company, joined nearly three dozen mid-sized American retailers in Washington, D.C. as part of the National Retail Federation's policy fly-in. The delegation met with lawmakers to discuss the growing impact of textile tariffs on U.S. manufacturing and consumer prices.

“Current U.S. tariff structures on textile inputs are undermining domestic leather production. While well-intended to protect American industry, these tariffs disproportionately burden U.S.-based manufacturers that still rely on global trade,” said Mazor.

Reed Sportswear, a Detroit-based, unionized manufacturer, has supplied high-quality leather apparel to over 11,000 U.S. retailers since 1950. While it proudly produces many garments in the U.S., it also imports select low-cost products that cannot currently be made domestically at scale.

“Our hybrid business model—a mix of Made-in-USA products and essential, responsibly sourced imports—lets us stay competitive, serve a wide range of customers, and reinvest in American jobs and innovation,” Mazor explained.

Tariffs Are Hurting U.S. Manufacturers

The company emphasized that current tariffs are:

• Raising costs on inputs used in U.S. production
• Forcing small and mid-sized manufacturers to raise prices or cut operations
• Threatening long-term investment in automation, AI, and robotics essential to rebuilding U.S. textile infrastructure

“Without reform, these policies will drive prices higher for low- and middle-income families while weakening the very foundation of American industry,” Mazor warned. “We need a policy that protects U.S. manufacturing—without increasing prices on essential goods for working families.”

Policy Recommendations

Reed is calling on lawmakers to support trade policies that:

• Eliminate tariffs on raw materials used in U.S. production
• Exempt low-cost finished goods not made domestically at scale
• Support hybrid manufacturing models that blend domestic production with responsible global sourcing
  
  
  

Learn more about how tariffs threaten the American dream at nrf.com/tariffsimpact.

About Reed Sportswear Manufacturing Company

Founded in 1950, Reed Sportswear is a Detroit-based, unionized apparel manufacturer producing premium leather outerwear and performance apparel. By operating a hybrid business model—combining American-made goods with globally sourced products—Reed serves a diverse customer base while remaining rooted in its commitment to U.S. manufacturing.