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October 28, 2025
Despite the ongoing shutdown, AAFA is on Capitol Hill this week continuing to push
smart trade priorities forward. Read on in today’s edition
Is Heat Stress the Garment Sector’s New Major Crisis?
Oct. 27: A new University of Sydney study has revealed the risk from extreme heat
stress in garment factories caused by climate change continues to rise. This is not
surprising, given that the majority of garment factories are based in countries that are
already suffering the worst effects of climate change. The World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) reported in June that Asia, a major fashion sourcing region,
is currently warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, fueling more extreme
weather and wreaking havoc on the region’s economies, ecosystems and societies. (Source: Just Style)
Exxon Files Lawsuit Against California Over Climate Disclosure Laws, Alleges Free
Speech Violations
Oct. 27: ExxonMobil has filed a lawsuit against California, claiming that two state laws
requiring corporate climate disclosures violate the company’s First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California,
challenges the California Climate Accountability Package, which was passed in
2023. The law requires large companies doing business in the state to report on
emissions, climate risks, and carbon offsets, or face annual penalties. (Source: KTLA 5)
EU Politicians Reject Sustainability Omnibus Proposals in Surprise Secret Vote
Oct. 23: In a surprise move, the EU parliament rejected a proposal that would water
down climate reporting requirements and lower the scope of coverage for thousands
of EU firms. The EU’s sustainability omnibus proposal was blocked by nine votes
in a secret ballot, with 318 votes against, 309 in favor and 34 abstentions. (Source:
Green Central Banking)
Chinese and U.S. Officials Reach Framework of a Trade Deal
Oct. 26: Chinese and American trade negotiators said on Sunday that they had agreed
to a framework of a deal on tariffs and other issues ahead of an expected meeting of
the countries’ top leaders this week. “We are moving forward to the final details of the
type of agreement that the leaders can review and decide if they want to conclude
together,” Jamieson Greer, the United States trade representative, said to reporters
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital. (Source: New York Times)
Trump Finalizes Trade Deals with 2 Southeast Asian Countries
Oct. 26: The United States announced finalized trade deals Sunday with two Southeast
Asian nations — Cambodia and Malaysia — that contain provisions aimed against China,
and further progress with two others in the region, Thailand and Vietnam. The news came
as President Donald Trump was in Malaysia for a regional leaders summit, and just days
before Trump is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Source: Politico)
Women’s Shoes Lead Price Increases in September
Oct. 24: ... Nate Herman, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear
Association (AAFA), added that as colder weather sets in and consumers trade their
summer sandals for fall footwear, inflation shows a chilling 2.8 percent increase for the
women’s category compared to September 2024. “This troubling trend acutely aligns
with tariffs on footwear-producing trading partners and the longstanding reality of higher
tariffs on female-focused products,” Herman said. “Until we see smart trade policies
tailored to the specific challenges of American industries, hardworking families will face
the weight of high prices.” (Source: WWD)
What Shippers Need to Know About Potential Tariff Refunds
Oct. 23: ... Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. would need to refund roughly
half of its tariff income should the Supreme Court uphold the lower court decisions.
“If the court says it, we’d have to do it,” Bessent said on NBC’s Meet the Press on
Sept. 7. (Source: Supply Chain Dive)
Watch: TikTok Deal to be Finalized Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Says
Oct. 26: With President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on a trip to Asia,
Bessent told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that the TikTok deal will be
finalized by Thursday. Bessent also said additional 100% tariffs with China are "effectively
off the table" after the two-day meeting. (Source: CBS News)
ChatGPT Should Make Retailers Nervous
Oct. 21: ... A lot of retailers’ web traffic comes from external places such as Google search
already, but shoppers typically need to click through to the retailers’ websites to complete
the transaction. ChatGPT’s Instant Checkout feature allows shoppers to go from asking
something like “find me the lightest strollers under $300,” browse, and proceed to checkout
without leaving the chat. OpenAI has said that merchants pay it a small fee on completed
purchases. The product results that come out of ChatGPT inquiries will be “organic and
unsponsored,” OpenAI says. (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Listen: The Battle Against Counterfeits: Leveraging IP to Safeguard Brand Equity
Oct. 21: ... Johnson shared her experiences and insights into fighting the never-ending
onslaught of copycats and nefarious actors. Sadly, a successful company with a desirable
product and brand must constantly remain vigilant to exclusively sell its products online,
even when it has intellectual property that should offer protection against such flagrant
violations. (Source: IPWatchdog)
AAFA President and CEO, Steve Lamar with Perry Ellis International CEO, Oscar Feldenkreis at the AAFA Board Meeting in Doral, FL. Special thank you to the team at Perry Ellis International for hosting and for the incredible hospitality!
AAFA's Beth Hughes with Ambassador Agniola Ahouanmenou and Alice Domanou Tchiwanou, Deputy Chief of Mission from the Embassy of Benin.
Special thank you to Crowell & Moring for hosting today's Trade and Customs Committee Meeting in D.C. and for the insightful trade and IEEPA litigation panel first thing today.
ITL Group Industry Chat:
AAFA President and CEO, Steve Lamar and ITL Group’s CEO, Neil Henderson discussed
how ITL Group is transitioning from a component supplier to a strategic supply chain
partner. Watch here to explore how their vision is supporting what’s next for the industry.
Tariff comments and deadlines:
Today AAFA member brands are taking part in a Trade and Customs Committee meeting
in D.C. and will participate in a Lobby Day on Capitol Hill tomorrow. In addition to tariff
discussions, members will be expressing the importance of AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP.
For questions, reach out to Beth Hughes.
Last week, AAFA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce on Section
232 steel and aluminum tariff inclusions for travel goods. Earlier this month, AAFA also
submitted comments to the U.S. Trade Representative supporting the extension of the
current China 301 exclusions, set to expire on November 29, and to the
U.S. Department of Commerce urging the removal of tariffs on Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) under its Section 232 National Security Investigation. These
submissions emphasize the importance of reducing trade barriers that burden the U.S.
apparel and footwear industry.
Keep track of tariff deadlines and regularly updated 'Trade Negotiations by Country' on
AAFA's Tariff 101 page. The next member only tariff call will be on Monday, November 3
at noon ET.
Transportation updates:
Effective Tuesday, October 14, the U.S. government began imposing fees on
Chinese-owned and operated carriers, as well as on any ocean carriers with
Chinese-built vessels calling at U.S. ports. China has retaliated by imposing matching
port fees on U.S.-flagged, built, owned, or operated ships. AAFA
responded to the new port-fee regime and has urged both countries to step back from
these escalating fees.
The next two Member-only Shipping Roundtables take place November 19 and December 17. Register on the AAFA Events page. For questions, please reach out to Audrey Clark and/or take part in the Transportation Team.
Upcoming Social Responsibility and Environmental Committee meetings:
Join AAFA at Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production’s (WRAP) headquarters in
Arlington, VA, on November 5 for the Social Responsibility Committee Meeting and on
November 6 for the Environmental Committee Meeting. These in-person sessions will
address the latest social compliance and environmental challenges impacting the apparel
and footwear industry. AAFA members can view agendas in progress by logging into the
AAFA website. For questions, please contact Chelsea Murtha or Nate Herman.
Next month in Guatemala City:
AAFA and WRAP will be co-hosting a Social Responsibility Workshop in Guatemala City
on November 21, following the Western Hemisphere Apparel & Footwear Compliance Conference, presented November 20 in both English and Spanish. Please contact Brielle Papalia with any questions and share the opportunity with your
suppliers in the region!
Earlier this month AAFA and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP),
AAFA’s CSR Partner, issued Version 2.0 of the member-only AAFA/WRAP Guidelines
for Responsible Sourcing in Tariff-Impacted Supply Chains.
Small business credit survey closes this week:
The Federal Reserve's effort to hear from small business owners includes a survey to
provide insights to policymakers, service providers, and lenders. The questions are best
answered by an owner or key financial decision maker of your business and will take
about 10–12 minutes. Learn more and take the survey before it closes this week,
November 1.
Member Welcome: Fragomen
Fragomen is recognized as the world’s leading corporate immigration services provider
and adviser. The firm employs more than 5,500 immigration professionals and support
staff located in 69 offices in 35 countries. Fragomen is structured to support all aspects
of global immigration, including, strategic planning, efficiency, quality management,
compliance, government relations, reporting and case management and processing.
These capabilities allow Fragomen to represent a broad range of companies, organizations
and individuals, working in partnership with clients to facilitate the transfer of employees
worldwide. For detailed information about Fragomen, please visit www.fragomen.com.
October-December
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Oct. 29 | In-person: Trade and Customs Lobby Day* Oct. 29 | Online: Webinar: Modern Slavery: Risks and Solutions for Sustainable Supply Chains Oct. 30 | Online: Webinar: Preparing for the EU Digital Product Passport: A U.S. Guide Nov. 3 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* Nov. 3 | Online: Webinar: Tracing Everything, Everywhere All at Once Nov. 10 | Online: Member-Only Virtual Training: The 2025 Social Compliance Landscape: Key Developments* Nov. 19 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* Nov. 20 | In-person: Western Hemisphere Apparel & Footwear Compliance Conference Nov. 21 | In-person: Guatemala Social Responsibility Workshop Nov. 24 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* Dec. 8 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* Dec. 17 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* *member-only content
February 3-4, 2026 | Long Beach, CA |
Staying compliant means staying informed, and in 2026 you will have even more time to do both. AAFA’s 2026 Product Safety & Compliance Seminar has been extended to a day and a half, giving you more time to explore the latest developments in product safety and compliance. Next year’s program will dive into two of the most pressing issues facing companies today, California’s Proposition 65 and CPSC eFiling, with practical insights to help your team prepare for new regulations and strengthen compliance programs. |
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Prioritize, Test, Comply: Managing Prop 65 Risk |
California Proposition 65 continues to challenge brands and retailers with its expansive chemical list, exposure-based limits, and evolving regulatory requirements. Brands and retailers must take a risk-based approach across multiple product types and chemicals. Using case studies involving BPA, BPS, and hexavalent chromium, learn how to prioritize substances, implement targeted testing, and collaborate with legal and compliance teams to minimize exposure and establish effective defenses in preperation for enforcement. |
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The Clock is Ticking on eFiling |
With the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) eFiling final rule set for full enforcement in July 2026, brands and retailers face mounting pressure to comply with new digital filing requirements. Don’t get caught unprepared for the data, system, and operational demands of eFiling. Unpack the technical, operational, and strategic dimensions of this rule, offering practical insights to streamline compliance processes and ensure organizations are ready to meet the deadline with confidence. |
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The Westin Long Beach
333 East Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802 |
Co-located with this seminar, AAFA’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Committee (on February 3 and 5, respectively) meetings provide attending members with expanded resources and alignment. (Separate registration required) |
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Hotel Room Block Information: |
Plan Ahead – Book Your Travel Early! Long Beach will be especially busy the first week of February due to a major event at the convention center. We strongly encourage you to book your travel and accommodations as soon as possible. AAFA’s room block at the Westin Long Beach (host hotel) has already sold out for the nights of February 2 & 3. However, there is still availability on the nights of February 4 & 5. There are still rooms available in AAFA’s room block at the Hilton Long Beach (just down the street). Please use the links below to make your hotel reservation. |
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The deadline to reserve a room in AAFA's block at our negotiated rates is Monday, January 12, 2026. Rooms may sell out before this date. |
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Follow along with us on social media with #AAFASafe |
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Event Ambassador Sponsors: |
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BECOME A SPONSOR Sponsorships for the 2026 Product Safety & Compliance Seminar are now available. If you'd like information about sponsoring the 2026 program or another AAFA event please contact Megan Balkovic. |
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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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