They have also called on the Australian wool industry to put together a roadmap by September to define goals to be achieved by specific dates during the next three years.

In a letter released by six trade associations and business groups in the US, the clothing and textile industry says all segments of the wool industry, from producers to brokers, should recommit to the goal and dedicate sufficient resources to make it possible.

"We also call upon representative organisations to provide a public report by September 2010 that maps out a strategy with measurable milestones to achieve this goal," said the statement, issued by the National Retail Federation's (NRF), Erik Autor.

The US industry recognised that Australia was the world's biggest wool producer and there were widespread research and breeding efforts being made to eliminate mulesing.

However it said technology and animal husbandry techniques were now at a point where viable, more humane, and cost-effective alternatives to mulesing had been adopted in other woolgrowing countries, such as New Zealand, and by some Australian producers.

In 2005, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) on behalf of the Australian wool industry issued a declaration of commitment to develop and adopt alternatives to mulesing by the end of 2010, but last year conceded the industry couldn't meet this.

Mr Autor said the past five years had seen some advances in alternatives to mulesing including widespread use of analgesics on mulesed lambs, but seemed to be little evidence of a concerted effort to adopt alternatives in the near future.

"We are convinced that the actions outlined in our position paper are essential to ensure that Australia can continue to be a key supplier of wool to the international textile and apparel market," he said

He said as more retailers and brands were initiating policies requiring suppliers to use non-mulesed wool, the US groups were concerned a lack of resolution on this issue would seriously impede Australian wool's name in overseas markets.