A watered-down 'Buy America' proposal included in the defence authorisation bill passed by the House of Representatives on Friday still retains critical textile-related provisions to boost US manufacturers.

Included as part of the 'Berry Amendment,' the US Defense Department (DOD) must buy products such as clothing and other textile items from companies or sourcing that use 100 per cent US content and labour.

These items are judged essential to the US' military readiness.