American Apparel & Footwear Association,update

SUBSCRIBE | ABOUT | EVENTS | ADVERTISE | JOIN March 10, 2026   As developments continue in the Middle East, we are closely monitoring the situation and keeping you informed about potential supply chain impacts. Read on for the latest updates across the industry. Southeast Asia Faces Sweltering Heat as War Limits Energy Supply March 9: Southeast Asia is set to see a warmer-than-usual early summer, potentially raising power demand for fuel and straining grids at a time when the Middle East conflict has tightened energy supplies in the region. (Source: Bloomberg) Report Exposes Widespread Heat Risk in India’s Textile Sector March 9: ... The sector is particularly exposed to heat-related hazards due to dense factory settings and production demands driven by fast fashion timelines. According to the report, 70% of garment workers are women, and they face multiple workplace risks including crowded workspaces, inadequate ventilation, poor lighting (Rana et al., 2021), and strict output targets. (Source: Just Style) Fast Fashion Garments Pile Up in South Asia as Middle East Conflict Grounds Planes March 6: Shipments of garments for [...] major clothing retailers are stranded at airports in Bangladesh and India, according to three manufacturers, as the conflict in the Middle East forces airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways to cancel flights. (Source: Reuters) Decoding Trump’s Tariff Tactics: Section 122 is Just the Start March 9: ... Peter E. Harrell, visiting scholar at Georgetown’s Institute of International Economic Law, and a former senior director for International Economics in the White House under President Biden, joined the American Apparel & Footwear Association’s Executive Summit last week to provide clarity. For each potential tariff mechanism, he provided insights into the differences between them, the probability each could come to pass and how vulnerable each is to legal challenges. (Source: Hertzman Global Intelligence) CBP Will Start Issuing $166B in Tariff Refunds—Just Not Immediately March 6: ... At the American Apparel & Footwear Executive Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, just before CIT laid down its verdict, trade expert and lawyer Peter Harrell said the question wasn’t “Do you have a right to get your money back?” but “How hard is the government going to make it to get your money?” (Source: Sourcing Journal) White House Faces Thousands of Lawsuits as it Tries to Slow-Walk Tariff Refunds March 3: ... Nate Herman, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which represents more than a thousand clothing and shoe brands, said his members have concluded, “This is not something that will happen in a matter of weeks — and possibly not even months.” (Source: POLITICO) President Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Cybercrime Networks and Online Fraud March 9: President Donald J. Trump has signed a new Executive Order aimed at strengthening the federal government’s response to cybercrime, fraud, and other online schemes targeting Americans. The order directs federal agencies to review the operational, technical, diplomatic, and regulatory tools currently used to combat cyber-enabled crime, with a focus on transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) responsible for large-scale fraud operations. Administration officials have been tasked with identifying gaps and recommending improvements to prevent, disrupt, investigate, and dismantle these networks. (Source: Homeland Security Today) Landmark Lawsuit Against OpenAI for Allowing ChatGPT to Provide Legal Advice Could be A Huge Game-Changer for all AI Makers March 9: ... Presumably, contemporary generative AI and large language models (LLMs) are not supposed to be handing out legal advice. The act of doing so would seem to violate the various UPLs (Unauthorized Practice of Law) stipulations throughout the United States (other countries tend to have similar provisions, but not all do). [...] In this recently filed case, the plaintiff is a company that was sued by an individual for various claims, and the individual allegedly tapped into ChatGPT to devise legal filings. (Source: Forbes) USTR Releases ‘Notorious Markets’ List March 5: ... “American Apparel & Footwear Association members are working tirelessly to fight counterfeits across e-commerce and social commerce platforms, detracting energy and resources from their ability to innovate and employ. This is a form of corruption and fraud that haunts Americans everywhere, and something we simply can’t afford to allow to flourish,” said AAFA’s senior director of brand protection, Jennifer Hanks. (Source: Sourcing Journal) Photos from the #AAFASummit! AAFA Executive Summit: Last week, AAFA hosted the 2026 AAFA Executive Summit — The Next Moves: Bold Ideas, Smart Futures — a special thank you to our speakers and sponsors for helping us convene such an outstanding group of leaders in Washington. Read AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar's reflections from the event here.     We’ll be back together April 14–15 in Baltimore for AAFA's Global Supply Chain & Trade Conference hosted by Under Armour with a focused deep dive on supply chains and trade. Be sure to check out our full events calendar for more opportunities to engage. Joe Preston, AAFA's new Board Chair for the 2026–2027 Board term. Welcome to the 2026-2027 AAFA Board: Last week at AAFA’s Board of Directors meeting in Washington, the team welcomed new leadership for the 2026–2027 Board term. We are honored to have Joe Preston of New Balance Athletics, Inc. step into the role of AAFA Board Chair. As our industry navigates another year of change and challenge, we are grateful for his steady leadership and forward-looking vision. Transportation disruption updates: AAFA is closely monitoring how the crisis in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz may affect our industry’s supply chains, particularly for companies sourcing from the Middle East. As the situation continues to evolve, we strongly encourage members to join our next Shipping Roundtable on March 18 (register to join at noon ET) which will feature special guest Reporter Lori Ann LaRocco from CNBC, and to participate in AAFA’s Transportation Team, led by Audrey Clark, for timely updates and information. This week, AAFA also signed onto a coalition letter urging Congress to maintain or increase funding for all modes of transportation in the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill. For questions, please reach out to Audrey Clark. Tracking trade developments: Within hours of the Supreme Court’s February 20 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) verdict, 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.   This week, the Court of International Trade (CIT) issued an order directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to liquidate or reliquidate entries without regard to IEEPA duties. The order applies to all importers. While this is a positive step forward in the industry’s effort to secure refunds, we are continuing to closely monitor developments.   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 (TCC). Registration is also open for the next TCC call on April 14 following today’s detailed update. In the meantime, if you are a member with questions, contact Beth Hughes.  USTR Notorious Markets List: Last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published its 2025 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.  In response, AAFA welcomed USTR’s recognition of ongoing concerns across e-commerce and social media platforms, including the report’s mention of Meta’s Facebook and Instagram. Building on this momentum, we continue to urge USTR, Congress, and the Trump Administration to advance initiatives that address vulnerabilities across the Digital Devalue Chain of Counterfeits. Additional updates on related IP protection and anticounterfeiting efforts will be shared soon through the Brand Protection Council. For questions, please contact Jennifer Hanks. March-April   March 16 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* March 18 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* March 18 | Online: Webinar: Our Circular Future March 23 | Online: Webinar: Mastering Covered Material Categories for EPR Savings March 25 | Online: Webinar: Managing Hazardous Solvents Across Textile Supply Chains March 30 | Online: Webinar: Driving Credibility Through Certification: Trends Reshaping the Textile Industry April 1 | Online: Webinar: The Contract-to-Cash Playbook: Reducing Freight Cost Leakage April 6 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* April 14-15 | In-Person: Global Supply Chain & Trade Conference April 21 | In-Person: AAFA 50th American Image Awards April 22 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* April 27 | Online: Webinar: Sustainability Claims & Biobased Verification   *Member-only content Global Supply Chain & Trade Conference Baltimore, MD | April 14-15 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.

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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