American Apparel & Footwear Association,update

 

SUBSCRIBE | ABOUT | EVENTS | ADVERTISE | JOIN September 9, 2025   The weather might be cooling down but the pressure for Congress to renew AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP is heating up with only 21 days until expiration. Keep reading to see how you can join the push for renewal and catch up on the latest industry news. 2025 100 Innovators: Sustainability Thought Leaders Sep. 8: ... From the US to the EU, politicians have whipped up an anti-ESG frenzy, prompting regulators to roll back hard-won policy momentum, and taking the wind out of the fashion industry’s sustainability efforts in the process. Even the companies that have doubled down on ambition and raised targets are being stifled by budget and staffing constraints. All the while, the social and environmental impacts of the climate crisis are becoming more severe, especially for the vulnerable communities in the Global South that make much of the world’s clothing. Sustainability has never been more pressing, and leadership never more vital. (Source: Vogue Business) U.S. Tells Countries to Reject UN Ship Fuel Emissions Deal or Face Tariffs Sep. 4: In a bold move that underscores growing tensions over global environmental regulations, the United States has reportedly urged other nations to oppose a proposed United Nations deal aimed at curbing emissions from marine fuels, threatening tariffs, visa restrictions, and port levies against those who support it. This development, revealed by sources familiar with the matter, highlights the Trump administration’s strategy to leverage economic pressure in reshaping international shipping policies that could inflate costs without delivering meaningful climate benefits. (Source: Energy News Beat) Why U.S. Businesses Need The International Labor Organization Sep 3: ... As the Fair Labor Association and American Apparel and Footwear Association noted in a statement this spring, businesses shouldn’t “face unfair competition, in a race to the bottom, from labor markets whose profitability depends on forced labor or other labor abuses such as unsafe workplaces and blocking workers’ freedom of association.” By promoting these global standards, the ILO reduces risks for American operations, helps hold foreign competitors accountable, and ensures that international markets remain fair for U.S. businesses. (Source: Forbes) Bessent Says U.S. Would Issue Refunds if Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs Sep. 8: The United States will have to send refunds to countries around the world if the Supreme Court rules against President Donald Trump's tariffs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "We would have to give a refund on about half the tariffs, which would be terrible for the treasury," Bessent told "Meet the Press" on Sept. 7. Pressed by host Kristen Welker to say whether Treasury was "prepared" to issue refunds, he added: "If the court says it, we'd have to do it." (Source: USA Today) Mexico Imposes ADD on Footwear Originating in China Sep. 8: Mexico’s economy and finance ministry recently imposed anti-dumping duty (ADD) on import of footwear originating in China following a probe that found such merchandise entered Mexico under dumping conditions, which affected the national footwear industry. The notice regarding the decision was published in the official gazette. The ADD took effect from September 4. (Source: Fibre2Fashion) The White House Is Exploring How to Keep Trump’s Tariffs if the Supreme Court Strikes Them Down Sep. 7: After losing in lower courts, President Donald Trump plans to take his case for the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs to the Supreme Court and the public square. But his aides have also explored alternative methods for imposing import taxes on foreign goods, according to a senior White House official and two people familiar with the internal discussions. (Source: NBC) We Ask Congress to Step Up NOW before Toppling Investments from Tanzania to Togo to Haiti Sep. 5: ... With the September 30 deadline fast approaching, Congress has less than one month remaining to renew two crucial trade preference programs that it should have renewed long before this urgent countdown began. For more than 23 years, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has driven a wide variety of U.S./African commercial relationships in sub-Saharan Africa. (Source: AllAfrica) Empowered Workers Are a Bulwark Against Illegal Monopoly Sep 8: Last week, US District Court Judge Amit Mehta issued his decision on remedies in the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google’s search monopoly. The ruling was widely viewed as a victory for Google, as the judge rejected most of the DOJ’s proposed remedies as “overreach” and accepted Google’s claim that it now competes in a broader information retrieval market being rapidly upended by the rise of LLM-powered chatbots and search engines such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthorpic’s Claude, Perplexity’s search engine, and even Google’s own Gemini chatbot. (Source: Tech Policy Press) Trump's Trade War Has Come to Your Etsy Shopping Cart Aug. 27: ... For a country with one of Trump's high tariff rates, that means sending a product to the U.S. is suddenly dramatically more expensive. As an example of the most extreme cases, an $800 product shipped from Canada will now come with a 25% tariff, adding $200 to the cost. But it also means new costs for everything from British yarn to Japanese anime figurines and for everyone from small-business owners and Etsy hobbyists to major corporations. (Source: MSNBC) TikTok Shop Joins INTA’s Unreal Campaign to Highlight the Importance of Brand Protection Aug. 21: TikTok is dedicated to creating a joyful shopping experience where our community can discover and buy merchandise they love with the confidence that they are getting an authentic product. As part of this ongoing commitment, we're proud to join the International Trademark Association's (INTA) Unreal campaign, an initiative raising shopper awareness about counterfeits for over a decade. By leveraging TikTok and its community, Unreal will drive awareness of the negative impacts of counterfeiting and the importance of trademarking and brands. (Source: TikTok Newsroom)  Delegation of private sector and government representatives from Guatemala with AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar yesterday. AAFA’s Jennifer Hanks leading today’s Brand Protection Council meeting in Washington, D.C., bringing members together to address the latest issues in brand protection, counterfeiting, and intellectual property rights. Thank you to our sponsors Denton and Authentix. Oritain Industry Chat:   In this Industry Chat, AAFA President and CEO Stephen Lamar and Former CBP Executive Director & Oritain’s Executive Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Ana Hinojosa, discuss the de minimis threshold suspension and scrutiny it will have on the millions of small-parcel apparel and footwear shipments into customs. Register to hear more from Ana during Oritain’s September 18 webinar - How to Gain Business Confidence Amid Trade Uncertainty.  Spread the word with #SmartTrade This morning's meeting with a Madagascar delegation of government and private sector representatives, AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar and AAFA Board Member Ed Gribbin. Advocate for AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP renewal: We are now 21 days away from expiration of AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP and need your voices for this final push. Following Beth's testimony in July, we've advocated with a full-court press and most recently published a press statement, related press coverage, and an op-ed that we encourage you to amplify. Today and tomorrow (Sept. 9-10), AAFA is leading an AGOA coalition heading to the Hill with brands and retailers, African ministers and embassy representatives, and African apparel manufacturers. The push to un-stack tariffs: On September 17 and 18, AAFA will join We Pay The Tariffs to advocate for small businesses affected by tariffs. Register to take part. Additionally, on October 29, members will have the opportunity to advocate on behalf of the industry on the smart trade policies during a Trade and Customs Lobby Day. To participate, please reach out to Beth Hughes.   The next member only tariff call will be on Monday, September 22 at noon ET. AAFA also encourages all members to have a representative on the AAFA Trade & Customs Committee. If you do not already have this representation, please contact Beth Hughes or Maureen Storch. For newly updated tariff by State data and Trade Negotiations by Country tracker, visit the Fashion Tariffs 101 hub. With help from National Industries for the Blind and SourceAmerica, the AAFA team brought together the 'Practical Approaches to Made in USA' event last week with insightful conversations and new ideas. See key moments on social media! AAFA & America250 partnership:  Last week AAFA announced its participation with America250 as a Supporting Partner to amplify and celebrate America's heritage. America250 is a bipartisan organization charged by Congress to lead the 250th commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The collaboration will feature year-round programs that highlight the contributions of U.S.-based apparel, footwear, accessories, and travel goods companies throughout the history of the U.S.  Read on with last week's press announcement. Member Welcome: Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Goodwill of the Finger Lakes is a Rochester, NY-based social enterprise serving a 20-county region across upstate New York. In addition to operating a network of thrift stores, the organization creates meaningful employment through manufacturing, call center operations, and community services.   Its cutting and sewing division is a cornerstone of its mission-driven work, producing high-quality uniforms for the U.S. military through the AbilityOne Program. This growing department provides sustainable jobs and operates with vertically integrated processes that emphasize quality and inclusion. We are looking to expand these operations outside of the AbilityOne program.   As the Northeast Hub for Textile Recycling, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes leads a coalition of 11 Goodwills to advance reuse and circularity. Additional Community services include vision rehabilitation, 211 and 988 crisis support, and the Goodwill Learning Academy, which helps adults earn a high school diploma. September-October   Sept. 9 | In-person: Brand Protection Council September 2025 Meeting* Sept. 10 | In-person: Brand Protection Lobby Day* Sept. 11 | Online: Webinar: Risk Mapping Strategies for a Responsible Supply Chain Sept. 18 | Online: Webinar: How to Gain Business Confidence Amid Trade Uncertainty Sept. 22 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* Sept. 24 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* Sept. 29 | Online: Webinar: EPR, AGEC & E-Tailers: The Weighty Connection Oct. 6 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* Oct. 9 | Online: Webinar: Digitizing Supply Chain Data for Global Compliance Oct. 20 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* Oct. 22 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* Oct. 29 | In-person: Trade and Customs Lobby Day* Oct. 29 | Online: Webinar: Modern Slavery: Risks and Solutions for Sustainable Supply Chains   *member-only content AAFA Executive Summit: The Next Moves - Bold Ideas, Smart Futures March 4 - 6, 2026 Contact Megan Balkovic for 2026 sponsorship opportunities. Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars, scheduled events, and member/committee calls. 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. PRIORITIES | SOLUTIONS | ACCESS | ABOUT | EVENTS 740 6th Street, NW 3rd and 4th Floors Washington, DC 20001 T: (202) 853-9080 Copyright © 2025 American Apparel & Footwear Association