July 1, 2025 Happy (early) Fourth of July! Before we spend the weekend celebrating our nation's anniversary with fireworks, family, and time to recharge, we're here to keep you informed on the latest developments shaping our country and industry today. |
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What Brands Should Know About Forthcoming Canadian, U.S. PFAS Regulations June 26: ... Manufacturing is becoming an increasingly studied part of the PFAS journey, as the chemicals might be used on machines as a lubricant or a surfactant to help a plastic mold release, for example. According to Pollack, regulation may have outpaced science at this juncture, with a less-than-complete understanding of PFAS’ risks or methods of transmission into the human body. Most believe that drinking water is the primary route of exposure, though there are studies about whether it might be inhaled as dust particles, for example. As such, clothing and products like carpets (which might release those particles) are being studied. (Source: Sourcing Journal) |
Supply Chain Pressures Put Fashion’s Just Transition at Risk June 26: ... In the fashion supply chain, she says this means taking account of all the people involved and how they are impacted by climate change. Sadly, Dily Williams director of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at University of the Arts London (UAL), says there’s no financial incentive right now to do good within the fashion supply chain, but there is still a moral one. She asserts that Trump’s tariffs are a short-term problem, whereas many businesses need to plan for the long-term so it’s important to “hold our nerve” during this period. (Source: Just Style) |
Bangladesh Well-Positioned to Lead Sustainable Apparel, Report June 26: Bangladesh’s significant progress toward sustainability in its garment and textile industry, including the setting of ambitious environmental targets, the rise of green manufacturing, and a growing culture of industry collaboration, has been highlighted in a new report. The report, ‘Bangladesh country report: macroeconomic and sustainability analysis’, from Cascale, also reveals what the global nonprofit calls a “pivotal opportunity” to align with the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR), a sector-wide initiative to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by 2030. (Source: Ecotextile News) |
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Senate Passes Trump’s Megabill After Pulling All-Nighter July 1: Senate Republicans narrowly passed Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” Tuesday, taking a significant step toward the president’s goal of signing the legislation later this week. The vote was 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina joined Democrats and voted no. (Source: Politico) |
Billions in Tariff Refunds Hang on Litigation: Explained June 30: ... Trump cited a 1977 presidential emergency powers law as the legal basis of some of his key tariff measures—including duties on China, Canada, and Mexico levied in response to fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration, and a nearly universal 10% global tariff. But no president has ever before imposed tariffs under that law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Two lower courts have agreed with plaintiffs that the tariff measures overstep the authority granted in IEEPA, and the cases are now being appealed. Industries hard-hit by the tariffs, like apparel manufacturing, are keen to see how litigation unfolds. “We’ve gotten a lot of questions from members about it,” said Nate Herman, senior vice president of policy at the American Apparel & Footwear Association. (Source: Bloomberg Law) |
Trump’s Tax Bill Conflicts With Trump’s Trade Goals June 29: ... Because the government would need to borrow more money to cover that shortfall, interest rates would likely rise. A stronger dollar — a side effect of higher rates — would make U.S. exports more expensive and encourage Americans to buy imports, producing a wider trade gap, economists said. “If you take Trump at his word that the persistent trade deficit is an economic emergency, then you couldn’t possibly endorse this,” said Benn Steil, director of international economics for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “This is clearly pushing in the direction of further persistent, and indeed, higher trade deficits.” (Source: Washington Post) |
U.S. Textile Makers, Feeling Forgotten by Trump, Hope Boom Days Are Ahead June 25: ... Stephen Lamar, president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, argues that many of Mr. Trump’s blanket tariffs on imports should be scaled back because it is unrealistic to expect American manufacturers to make shirts and shoes at a competitive price domestically. “We’re not going to be able to bring the apparel and footwear industries back to the United States at scale,” Mr. Lamar said. “A lot of people talk about how they want more ‘Made in U.S.A.’ apparel, but they’re not willing to pay the prices for apparel that is made in U.S.A.” (Source: New York Times) |
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Eagles Fans Love Their Team, Hate Their Counterfeit NFL Fan Gear July 1: ... Knockoff fan gear is nothing new, and frustration with counterfeit jerseys, hats and collectibles is widespread. InGame.com analyzed over half a million online conversations from the past year about fake NFL merchandise and knockoff products. While fans nationwide voice frustration, the intensity and negativity vary widely depending on the team and location, an InGame.com spokesman said. When fans purchase counterfeit merchandise, the quality is often inferior. According to the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), counterfeit items can be made with toxic chemicals and heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium. (Source: Delaware Valley Journal) |
Trump Plans to Announce TikTok Buyer in Two Weeks June 29: President Trump said Sunday there is a buyer for TikTok, a week after he extended the app's ban deadline for a third time. The big picture: Trump would not say who the buyer is while appearing on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," noting only it is "a group of wealthy people." When pressed by host Maria Bartiromo on who the buyer is, the president said he "will tell you in about two weeks." (Source: Axios) |
Retail Leaders Urge FTC to Enforce INFORM Act Ahead of Anniversary June 27: The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to intensify enforcement of the INFORM Consumers Act, urging the agency to prioritize transparency, accountability, and consumer protection in online marketplaces as the law nears its two-year anniversary. In a statement on Thursday, RILA urged the FTC to exercise its authority to crack down on illegal activity in digital commerce by ensuring that online platforms fully comply with the INFORM Act’s requirements. The law requires third-party sellers on high-volume online marketplaces to verify and disclose key business information — a measure designed to curb the sale of counterfeit, stolen, or hazardous goods. (Source: Mass Market Retailers) |
Meta Wins AI Copyright Case, but Judge Says Others Could Bring Lawsuits June 25: Meta on Wednesday prevailed against a group of 13 authors in a major copyright case involving the company’s Llama artificial intelligence model, but the judge made clear his ruling was limited to this case. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria sided with Meta’s argument that the company’s use of books to train its large language models, or LLMs, is protected under the fair use doctrine of U.S. copyright law. (Source: CNBC) |
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AAFA's Conor O'Brien speaking on PFAS at Innovation Forum’s Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference in New York City |
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Take action on AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP renewal: With the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs both expiring in 91 days, on September 30, 2025, we invite you to help magnify our urgent asks of Congress to reauthorize these programs as soon as possible. Access the advocacy letter that you can tailor for your members of Congress with just a few clicks! For related letters, see the full AAFA Legislative Action Center and 2025 legislative priorities. Questions? Contact Beth Hughes. |
Trade and tariff updates: As we approach the key dates of July 9, August 12, and September 30, AAFA has implemented a countdown tool on the Fashion Tariffs 101 hub. In addition to recent tariff-related comments, public statements, and key statistics, this hub also has our tracker of Trade Negotiations by Country, updated weekly. To help our members stay ahead and informed as we approach key tariff related decision points and trade negotiations around the world, AAFA will host its next two member-only tariff calls on July 14 and July 21. Register for each individually via the AAFA Calendar of Events. For questions on how to take part in these calls or the Trade and Customs Committee (TCC), please contact Beth Hughes. We also invite members to access the latest tracker of Trade Negotiations by Country (updated weekly). |
Letter to CBP and shipping updates: Last week, AAFA joined a multi-sector letter to Customs and Border Protection regarding ongoing challenges with the interpretation of the “in-transit” reciprocal tariff exclusion to date. Additionally, members are very focused on disruptions in the Red Sea at this tumultuous time. To learn more, members can join Shipping Roundtables, including the next discussion on July 23 at noon ET (register), and can request access to the Transportation Team via Audrey Clark. |
New AAFA/WRAP resource: Last week, AAFA and WRAP, AAFA’s Official CSR Partner, released the new AAFA/WRAP Guidelines for Responsible Sourcing in Tariff-Impacted Supply Chains (login required). In 2025, the U.S.’s policy changes have created a tariff roller coaster pressuring buyers to reevaluate supplier relationships as country sourcing costs change due to new or threatened tariff levels. At the same time, companies need to factor in the human impact of abrupt production shifts, all under growing scrutiny from the media, NGOs, and civil society. The questions outlined in this guidance are designed to help companies assess potential impacts on suppliers, workers, and production timelines before making abrupt decisions. While tariffs may fluctuate, the industry’s commitment to ethical sourcing should remain consistent. By using this framework, buyers can reduce risk, uphold their responsibilities to supplier partners and workers, and reinforce the shared values that define AAFA and WRAP’s approach to responsible supply chain management. For questions, please reach out to Nate Herman. |
Made in USA discussions: This summer, the AAFA is excited to host a pop-up event on Practical Approaches to Made in USA. Supported by National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and SourceAmerica, it will be hosted at the NIB offices in Alexandria, VA, where valuable insights and strategies will be shared on how to leverage existing production and technology to increase the manufacturing of apparel, footwear, and textiles within the United States. Questions? Contact Brielle Papalia.
As we reflect on Independence Day this week and America's 250th Anniversary next year, AAFA will be hosting a Member-Only Call on America’s Semi-Quincentennial celebration. Please join us on July 31 with the U.S. Semi-Quincentennial Commission to discuss these year-long celebrations and how to get involved. |
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Member Welcome: CarbonFact |
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| Carbonfact's Sustainability Platform built for the apparel and footwear industry, helps brands measure, report and reduce their footprint with a team of data experts by their side. By automating complex life cycle assessments, providing data-driven insights, automating environmental reporting, and offering eco-design simulation tools, our software addresses the challenge of opaque supply chains and enables brands to develop effective decarbonization strategies. |
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| Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars, scheduled events, and member/committee calls. |
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About the American Apparel & Footwear Association The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market. Representing more than 1,100 world famous name brands, AAFA is the trusted public policy and political voice of the apparel and footwear industry, its management and shareholders, its more than 3.6 million U.S. workers, and its contribution of more than $523 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. AAFA drives progress on three key priorities: Brand Protection; Supply Chain & Sourcing; and Trade, Logistics, & Manufacturing. AAFA approaches this work through the lens of purpose-driven leadership in a manner that supports each member’s ability to build and sustain inclusive and diverse cultures, meet and advance ESG goals, and draw upon the latest technology. |
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