U.S. lawmakers have asked for a revision to the textile clause in the free trade agreement (FTA) signed with South Korea in 2007 as remaining contentious issues are negotiated.

The Congressional Textile Caucus jointly chaired by Howard Coble, a Republican lawmaker from North Carolina, and Democrat John Spratt from South Carolina sent a letter addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk earlier in the month.

The legislators said if no changes are made to the FTA, local textile and clothing companies will be placed at a disadvantage resulting in more jobs being lost.

The U.S. textile industry also pointed out in a letter to Kirk that an FTA with South Korea could cause tariffs on imports to come down in a short period of time.