American Apparel & Footwear Association,update

 

SUBSCRIBE | ABOUT | EVENTS | ADVERTISE | JOIN April 14, 2026   The AAFA team is in Baltimore this week for our Global Supply Chain & Trade Conference - keeping the industry updated on the latest and most important developments in the supply chain and trade environment. Cambodia Grapples With Labor Market Shock as Workers Return From Thailand April 13: ... Nearly one million migrant workers have returned from Thailand since border tensions escalated in June 2025. Despite truce agreements between the two countries, workers say they continue to brace for the fallout that has thrown their lives into confusion and uncertainty. (Source: Sourcing Journal) U.S. Customs Blocks About $0.8 Billion Worth of Goods a Year on Suspicion of Forced Labor April 8: ... U.S. law has barred imports of goods made by prisoners since the “McKinley Tariff” of 1890. (Though at least one U.S. prison routinely exports goods made by inmates; see below.) The 1930 Tariff Act (“Smoot-Hawley”) then banned imports of goods made with forced labor, unless buyers could show there was no available U.S. substitute. Most recently, an Obama-era law passed in 2016 banned any imports of goods with a “reasonable suspicion” of forced labor content. In sum, for the past decade the U.S. has banned all forced labor imports. (Source: Progressive Policy Institute) Will AI Make Fashion More or Less Sustainable? April 7: Sustainability teams are spread thin. Everything from reporting and compliance to developing responsible sourcing strategies and chasing data from hundreds, if not thousands, of sources crosses their desks. Even at multi-million-dollar brands, these teams are often just a handful of people, forced to spend more time with their heads buried in spreadsheets than pushing the kind of agenda-setting sustainability strategies they got into this work to implement. It’s no surprise that the promise of hyper-efficient AI seems so seductive. (Source: Vogue Business) India, Vietnam, Cambodia Rise as Apparel Hubs Amid Trade Protectionism April 7: ... “Our latest Retail Sourcing Report arrives at a critical inflexion point. With geopolitics and tariffs reshaping trade relationships, and technological advancement enabling smarter supply chain decisions, organizations must adapt faster than ever before,” notes TradeBeyond’s CEO Michael Hung in the report. (Source: Just Style) Fourth of July Fireworks: A Festive Flood of IEEPA Refunds April 14: Some companies around the country will be celebrating more than the nation’s 250th birthday on July Fourth. That’s the earliest they can receive their processed IEEPA tariff refunds. Here’s the timeline. (Source: Substack) Trump’s Refund Rollout Leaves Many Out for Now April 13: CBP’s system for companies seeking refunds for more than $160 billion of Trump’s invalidated tariffs is on track to begin accepting petitions next week, according to a message the agency issued Friday. But trade lawyers say the rollout may be narrower than it appears and won’t apply, at least initially, to most importers who paid tariffs the Supreme Court invalidated in February. (Source: POLITICO) India's Largest Port Swamped by Strait of Hormuz Diversions April 13: India’s largest container port is now absorbing the brunt of structural rerouting around the Strait of Hormuz, turning Navi Mumbai into a de facto dumping ground for diverted containers. According to project44, container diversions around the Strait of Hormuz were relatively contained before the Iran conflict. During the week of 16 February, the number stood at about 1,075 diversions. After hostilities began, vessel diversions, and the frenzied dropping off of containers at alternative ports so ships could unload and exit the risk zone quickly, surged. (Source: Supply Chain Digital) Trump’s Section 122 Tariffs Challenged in Court as Consumer Sentiment Reaches Record Low April 10: ...The Court of International Trade is now considering a case brought by small businesses and two dozen states that aims to unravel the president’s latest 10 percent universal tariffs, levied using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Trump issued the executive order on Feb. 24, days after the Supreme Court ruled the IEEPA tariffs were unlawful, and vowed soon after to increase the rate to 15 percent. (Source: Sourcing Journal) Trade Bodies Call for Moving HR 4930 Forward in U.S. Legislative Process April 9: The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) along with 18 other trade bodies recently wrote a letter to Congressional leadership in the US House of Representatives seeking support to move HR 4930 forward in the legislative process. The piece of legislation, aimed at addressing long-standing challenges to the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) at US borders, was reported with unanimous, bipartisan support from the House Ways and Means Committee. (Source: Fibre2Fashion) Meta, Amazon, X.AI Pressed by Key Senator on Child Exploitation April 9: A top Senate Republican is launching an inquiry into Meta Platforms Inc., Amazon.com Inc., X.AI Corp., and five other major tech companies over concerns with their reporting on suspected cases of online child sexual exploitation. (Source: Bloomberg) Meta Removes Ads for Social Media Addiction Litigation April 9: Meta on Thursday began removing advertisements from attorneys who were seeking clients that claim to have been harmed by social media while under the age of 18. Why it matters: This comes just two weeks after Meta and YouTube were found negligent in a landmark California case about social media addiction. (Source: Axios) AAFA President and CEO, Steve Lamar with Lance Ruttenberg and Erin Ickes from the American Textile Company at the White House complex to talk tariffs.  This week in Baltimore: Tomorrow, the team will host a full day of sessions in Baltimore for the 2026 AAFA Global Supply Chain & Trade Conference, where policy and industry leaders will break down the latest developments in sourcing and logistics. A huge thank you to our host Under Armour, Inc., for having us for this important event and a special thank you to Rebound Returns for hosting this evening’s welcome reception. In addition to our keynote speakers Shawn Curran and Jenn Hawthorne from Under Armour, guests will also get the opportunity to hear from representatives from AAFA, Altana, American Association of Exporters and Importers, Autos Drive America, Baker McKenzie, Black Diamond Protective Equipment, BSI Consulting Services, Columbia Sportswear Company, Consumer Technology Association, Flexport, L.L. Bean, Levi Strauss & Co., National Corn Growers Association, PVH Corp., Ralph Lauren Corporation, SCAN Association, and Target Corporation. Thank you to each of the sponsors making this week’s conference a reality. Supply chain and transportation: Activity and strategy surrounding the Strait of Hormuz continues to evolve, creating complicated trickle down effects on our industry's supply chain.    To help stay on top of the disruption, all members can join monthly Shipping Roundtables, next hosted on April 22 at noon ET as well as talk to Membership about representation on AAFA’s Transportation Team, led by Audrey Clark.  Trade and customs updates: Yesterday, AAFA submitted comments to the International Trade Commission regarding its factfinding investigation, Effects on the U.S. Economy of Revoking China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status, warning against actions that may lead to the loss of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR).    Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expected to begin processing a selective amount of refunds beginning April 20. To help track key dates related to tariff refunds and the ongoing Section 301 investigations, AAFA’s Tariff 101 page has been updated with a dedicated Q&A section to keep the industry informed.   For further updates and information we invite members to participate in the AAFA Trade and Customs Committee (TCC) with the next TCC meeting in Washington on May 5. Questions can be directed to Beth Hughes. Ruben Toledo to accept the Icon Award April 21: World-renowned artist Ruben Toledo is being honored with the special Icon Award at the 2026 American Image Awards. Read on for a glimpse into his creative process and the surprises he revels in. We look forward to a vibrant celebration as we reflect on 50 years of honoring excellence, achievement, stewardship, and collaboration! Fibre fragmentation with The Microfibre Consortium: Fibre fragmentation—also known as microfibre pollution—is an emerging risk for the fashion and textiles industry, with impacts on biodiversity, the environment, and human health. On May 5, AAFA and The Microfibre Consortium will host a member-only virtual briefing exploring this issue as a value chain-wide challenge. The session will focus on practical, data-driven solutions, including how fibre fragments are created, why they matter, and actionable steps companies can take now to integrate this issue into sustainability strategies and operations. For questions, please reach out to Chelsea Murtha.  Comments on greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements: Yesterday, AAFA responded to the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) request for feedback on greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements under SB 253. In submitted comments, AAFA encouraged CARB to align with existing emissions reporting frameworks and ensure flexibility in the use of recognized standards. For questions, please reach out to Chelsea Murtha.  Brand Protection updates: Last week, AAFA joined a cross-industry letter with 19 associations to Congressional Leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives to ask for support to move HR 4930 forward in the legislative process. HR 4930 is aimed at addressing long-standing challenges to the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) at U.S. borders.    Coming up, AAFA has several engagements planned at IACC’s Annual Conference 2026 - International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition. If you are interested in connecting with brands and or the AAFA team during the conference, please reach out to Jennifer Hanks. AAFA will also lead Brand Protection Council (BPC) calls on May 12 and June 9. Member Welcome: Gibson Dunn Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes around the world. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. More than 2,200 lawyers, spanning 22 offices and dozens of practice areas, we operate as a unified whole. Our work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision. We forge deep partnerships with our clients — helping them face tough challenges with courage and thrive in unprecedented times. April-May   April 20 | Online: Webinar: Building Leather Traceability Beyond Tier 1 April 21 | In-Person: 50th AAFA American Image Awards April 22 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* April 27 | Online: Webinar: Sustainability Claims & Biobased Verification April 27 | Online: Member-Only Call on Tariffs* April 29 | Online: Webinar: Prove It or Lose It: Affirming Supply Chain Traceability for Cotton and Beyond May 4 | Online: Webinar: Navigating IEEPA Tariff Refunds: What Apparel Importers Need to Know Now May 5 | Online: Briefing: Fibre Fragmentation with The Microfibre Consortium May 6 | Online: Webinar: Product Safety Starts Upstream: Preventing Compliance Failures at the Source May 18 | Online: AAFA Member-Only Call on Tariffs* May 20 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* May 20 | Online: Webinar: What’s Changing in ESG Compliance: A Guide for 2026 and Beyond   *Member-only content Vietnam: Apparel & Footwear Compliance Conference October 20 | Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam  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. PRIORITIES | SOLUTIONS | ACCESS | ABOUT | EVENTS

740 6th Street, NW
3rd and 4th Floors
Washington, DC 20001
T: (202) 853-9080

Copyright © 2026 American Apparel & Footwear Association