February 24, 2026 The Supreme Court decision has been released, unleashing many additional questions. We’re breaking down what you need to know — and how to stay informed. |
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Final EU Approval to Reduce Sustainability Reporting Requirements for Companies Feb. 24: The EU Council has given the final green light to a simplification of the sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies, as part of its ‘Omnibus’ red tape cutting package. The legislation looks to simplify EU directives on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) and corporate sustainability due diligence (CS3D) by reducing the reporting burden, says the Commission, and so ‘limiting the trickle-down effect of obligations on smaller companies’. (Source: EU Business) |
Uzbekistan: New Report Shows State Coercion Of Farmers Creates Risk Of Forced Labor Feb. 18: “Government action to end state coercion of farmers is essential to stay on the reform path following the elimination of systemic state-imposed forced labor of cotton pickers,” said Nate Herman, Executive Vice President, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA). ”There is no pathway to compliance with international standards without allowing farmers to exercise their rights, including bargaining rights and freedom of choice over which crops they grow and which cotton companies they enter into contracts with.” (Source: Cotton Campaign) |
Companies Prioritizing Scope 3 Disclosures, Despite Regulatory Uncertainty Feb. 17: ...The past year has seen the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission backtrack on its support for the climate-risk disclosure rule, and the European Union dramatically shrink the scope of its Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. But other legislations coming online, such as California’s Senate Bill 253 and the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, in addition to looming possibilities, such as a New York Senate bill, continue to exert pressure. (Source: ESG Dive) |
New Insights Paper Unpacks Pay Equity in Türkiye’s Fashion Manufacturing Sector Feb. 12: Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has published a new insights paper, Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Türkiye, examining the drivers of gender pay disparities in one of Europe’s most important fashion sourcing hubs. Launched during a closed-door industry roundtable at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector in Paris, the insights paper explores how structural factors, including occupational segregation, care responsibilities, and limited data visibility, continue to shape pay outcomes for women in Türkiye’s textile and apparel sector, while highlighting opportunities for coordinated action across policy makers, brands, other buyers, and suppliers. (Source: Global Fashion Agenda) |
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Fashion’s New Trade Reality Feb. 23: ... “While the Supreme Court's decision removes IEEPA as the administration's most flexible pathway for imposing sweeping tariffs, the trade environment for apparel and footwear remains chaotic and uncertain,” says Nate Herman, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. “Overturning IEEPA reduces the president's ability to quickly and directly tariff our key import countries, but it does not eliminate other authorities or the longstanding most-favored nation (MFN) rates that have disproportionately burdened this industry for nearly a century.” (Source: Vogue Business) |
Industry Reaction to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Trump's Global Tariffs Feb. 20: ... Steve Lamar, CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association "Now is the time to restore a predictable and dependable trade policy, compliant with the rule of law, that the apparel and footwear industry can rely on to temper the already heavy tariff burden facing our industry, U.S. manufacturers, and every hard-working American family that relies on our products." (Source: Reuters) |
Better-Than-Nothing AGOA Extension Brings Both Relief and Uncertainty Feb. 18: ... “We fought hard to make sure a refund was part of the bill, because companies are facing tariff bills from the IEEPA reciprocal tariffs, so any relief is helpful on their part,” said American Apparel and Footwear Association Beth Hughes. (Source: Hertzman Global intelligence) |
Members of Congress Launch Berry Amendment Caucus Feb. 18: ... American Apparel and Footwear Association president and CEO Steve Lamar echoed the sentiment of gratitude to the lawmakers for their “tireless support” of the Berry Amendment. “Recent efforts to undermine the Berry Amendment and ongoing challenges to sustainable government procurement of domestically made textiles, apparel, and footwear make the formation of this caucus extremely timely,” he said. “AAFA appreciates the bipartisan group of Representatives who have been dedicated to this initiative and encourage further support from all Members of Congress whose constituents include American manufacturers, our dedicated and well-outfitted service members, and the communities they protect.” (Source: Sourcing Journal) |
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Chatbots Are the New Influencers Brands Must Woo Feb. 18: The rise of chatbot marketing is happening as A.I. tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini hit mass adoption. OpenAI has said that 800 million people use ChatGPT weekly, while Google says its Gemini chatbot has more than 750 million monthly users. Some see A.I. marketing as an extension of old-fashioned search engine optimization, or SEO, which brands have done for decades to try to ensure they show up on the first page of Google’s results. (Source: New York Times) |
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Trade and customs updates: The wait is over. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its long-anticipated decision on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), ruling that the IEEPA tariffs were unlawful. AAFA responded immediately, thanking the Court for reaffirming Congress’s constitutional authority over tariffs and underscoring the importance of the rule of law. We also called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to move swiftly and transparently to refund IEEPA tariffs collected. Within hours, the Administration announced a new 10 percent global tariff under Section 122, with public threats to increase it to 15 percent — though no formal documentation has yet been issued. While Section 122 tariffs can remain in effect for up to 150 days, we anticipate additional trade actions may follow during that period. To stay informed amid continued trade policy uncertainty, we strongly encourage all members to join our next Member-Only Tariff Call on Monday, March 16 at Noon ET, and to participate in the AAFA Trade and Customs Committee. In the meantime, if you are a member with questions, please reach out the Beth Hughes. AAFA is closely tracking the many questions coming from our industry and is pressing the Administration for clarity, consistency, and transparency. On March 3, AAFA Board Members will be on Capitol Hill for Lobby Day ahead of the AAFA Executive Summit, with a focused message: Congress must reclaim its constitutional responsibility and advance smart, stable trade policy. |
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| Haelixa is a Swiss traceability company that helps brands and manufacturers prove the true origin and authenticity of materials using unique DNA markers. A spin-off from ETH Zurich, it applies patented, natural DNA tracers to raw materials like organic cotton, cashmere, recycled fibers, and precious metals, which remain intact throughout production for reliable, forensic verification. Trusted by global brands, Haelixa traced over 30 million garments in 2024. Haelixa helps businesses mitigate risks, comply with leading certifications and regulations, and build trust through verified sustainability claims. |
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| Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars, scheduled events, and member/committee calls. Sponsorships for 2026 are sold out. Plan early for 2027 and contact Megan Balkovic to discuss your preferred events and programs for next year. |
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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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