American Apparel & Footwear Association,update

SUBSCRIBE | ABOUT | EVENTS | ADVERTISE | JOIN May 5, 2026   May marks World Trade Month! We're kicking it off this week with a Trade and Customs Committee Meeting in Washington, D.C. today and meetings on Capitol Hill tomorrow. All that and more covered in today's brief!  A Shock to the System’: Roughly $300 Billion in U.S. Imports Changed Country of Origin Last Year May 4: ... Not surprisingly, the report shows imports from China were down dramatically, as the country saw some of the steepest tariff increases. Here are a few key changes in imports from 2024 to 2025, according to the report: Direct imports from mainland China fell by almost one-third. China lost $135 billion in U.S. imports.13 other Asian countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, gained a cumulative $194 billion in imports. (Source: Modern Retail) Workers Clash, Speak Out and Negotiate Across Asia on International Workers’ Day May 1: ... Disrupted by inflation and shortages as a fallout of the war in Iran, with spiking oil and gas prices affecting the daily expenses, labor intensive countries like India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and others across the region called for higher wages, relief from the rising cost of living, and freedom of assembly. (Source: Sourcing Journal) Navigating the FTC Care Labeling Rule in the Modern Age May 1: ... Most recently, in late February 2025, the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) submitted a petition to the FTC to digitize care labels. The FTC opened public comment on the petition and received many responses until the comment period closed on April 18, 2025. As of 2023, 60% of shoppers globally see value in the ability to scan a QR code for detailed garment care instructions. From the commentary to the AAFA petition, it seems that many in the industry feel the same. (Source: The National Law Review) Imposing Section 301 Tariffs Would be Counterproductive: FLWG to USTR May 1: The U.S. Forced Labor Working Group (FLWG) has urged the US Trade Representative (USTR) not to impose tariffs as a result of the Section 301 investigation as tariffs would be counterproductive, legally unwarranted and harmful to the very US commerce that the section is designed to protect. Nate Herman, executive vice president at the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), recently testified at the office of the USTR on behalf of the FLWG opposing such tariffs. (Source: Fibre2Fashion) CBP’s Tariff Refund Portal is Performing Better Than Expected April 30: U.S. Customs and Border Protection expects to begin issuing refunds for defunct Trump administration tariffs as soon as May 11, according to a court filing this week. The agency has accepted roughly 21% of all entries submitted to its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries portal it launched April 20 to process refunds for tariffs the Supreme Court invalidated earlier this year. About 3% of those entries have been liquidated and moved onto the refund process, per the filing. (Source: Supply Chain Dive) Low Demand, Rising Rates on the Trans-Pacific April 30: The stalemate in the Iran war has been anything but for ocean container spot rates on the trans-Pacific. While there has been little diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran toward ending the conflict, the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by United States forces has been fueling (pun intended) higher ocean prices during a traditional lull prior to the start of the peak shipping season. (Source: The Exchange: CNBC) WATCH: Higher Oil Prices Hit Byproducts like Polyethylene April 28: CNBC’s Pippa Stevens reports on news regarding higher energy prices. (Source: The Exchange: CNBC) Vietnam, EU Targeted by USTR for IP Policy and Counterfeiting May 1: ... American Apparel & Footwear Association president and CEO Steve Lamar weighed in on the government’s efforts to address violative behaviors by U.S. trade partners. [...] “If the government is serious about protecting Americans from IP infringement, it should focus on strengthening these practical tools and working collaboratively with Congress, rather than continuing to rely first on tariffs that add pressure to the global supply chain,” Lamar said. (Source: Sourcing Journal) AAFA Pushes for Swift U.S. House Passage of Key Anti-Counterfeiting Law April 30: The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) recently urged the US House of Representatives to pass a key anti-counterfeiting measure that is scheduled to be considered this week. The legislation (HR 4930) aims at strengthening US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) ability to share information with stakeholders during enforcement of American intellectual property (IP) rights at the border. (Source: Fibre2Fashion) “You Cannot Trust a Machine”: The AI Consumer Perception Survey April 22: ... The key takeaway is that consumers are cautious, and the execution of early applications of AI in fashion is what’s holding them back right now. Those who have adopted its use for shopping are driven primarily by convenience and efficiency, but many are constrained by concerns around trust and authenticity. That said, there are untapped opportunities for the brands that can get the balance between convenience and authenticity right. (Source: Vogue Business) Warning: Fraudulent Emails Impersonating WIPO and Major IP Offices April 10: Scammers are actively sending emails using fake addresses — including admin@wipo-office.com — to impersonate the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and other prominent intellectual property offices, including the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). These emails typically demand payments for trademark or patent-related services, falsely presenting themselves as official correspondence from these authoritative bodies. (Source: WIPO) AAFA's Beth Hughes and Fruit of the Loom's Charles Sanders at today's Trade and Customs Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. A special thank you to Akin for hosting! Follow along for more from Beth and the team with #SmartTrade and #WorldTradeMonth  World Trade Month, AGOA, Section 301 testimony, and supply chain updates: In honor of World Trade Month, AAFA will be highlighting the world behind what you wear, where it begins, how it moves, and why it matters across our platforms throughout the month of May. Today, we kicked off in Washington, D.C. at our in-person Trade and Customs Committee (TCC) meeting which will be followed by a day of meetings on Capitol Hill. To get involved in AAFA's next TCC meeting, please connect with Beth Hughes.    As discussed at today's TCC meeting, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released the Federal Register Notice for Request for Comments on the Modernization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). AAFA will be submitting comments by May 15.   Last week, Nate Herman testified in front of the USTR on the Section 301 investigation on forced labor as a representative of the Forced Labor Working Group (FLWG), composed of 17 industry groups representing thousands of companies across diverse industries. View the testimony as prepared for delivery and read AAFA's submitted comments on the Section 301 investigation on forced labor and excess capacity.   With continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, stay informed with transportation updates. Members can join monthly Shipping Roundtables (register for the next call on May 20 at noon ET) and talk to Membership about representation on AAFA’s Transportation Team, led by Audrey Clark.  Brand protection in focus: During World Trade Month, while we focus on legitimate trade, it is also important to eradicate illicit trade, educate regarding the misuse of valuable IP, and focus on ways to cancel out dangerous counterfeits.    Last week, AAFA urged House passage of H.R. 4930, a key anti-counterfeiting customs enforcement measure. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives, and AAFA urges the Senate to act quickly so the measure can be signed into law by President Trump.     The next Brand Protection Council (BPC) call on May 12 at 11am ET will feature several representatives from the USPTO China Team as guest speakers at the top of the call. The team will discuss a range of issues from the benefits of copyright protection in China to utility model patents. Questions are being collected by AAFA from member registrants now to further tailor the call to member needs. For questions, please reach out to Jennifer Hanks. The LEAD Summit AAFA and The Lead Summit are partnering on May 20-21 in New York City!    Featuring 3,000+ attendees and 150+ speakers, this year’s agenda will touch on how to build unique brand identities in a trend-driven world, adapt to agentic AI, drive incremental growth across new platforms, channels, and strategies, upskill your teams, maintain a competitive edge, and so much more.   Brand and retail friends of AAFA can attend for free with this special offer (register here). NOTE: Please add our name in the ‘how did you hear about us’ field when you register! For non-brand or retail friends, you can use this link for 25 percent off. May-June   May 6 | Online: Webinar: Product Safety Starts Upstream: Preventing Compliance Failures at the Source May 18 | Online: AAFA Member-Only Call on Tariffs* May 19 | Online: Implementing the AAFA Heat Guidance May 20 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* May 20 | Online: Webinar: What’s Changing in ESG Compliance: A Guide for 2026 and Beyond May 27 | Online: Webinar: Beyond Compliance: Unlocking Value from Multi-Tier Traceability June 15 | Online: Virtual Training: Sourcing Destinations Beyond the Top 5 Suppliers* June 17 | Online: Webinar: How Reliable Risk Intelligence Drives Forced Labor Detection June 17 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* June 22 | Online: AAFA Member-Only Call on Tariffs*   *Member-only content Traceability & Sustainability Conference July 8–9 | Denver, CO Sponsorships are available for the Government Contractors Forum. All other sponsorships for 2026 are sold out. Plan early for 2027 and contact Megan Balkovic to discuss your preferred events and programs for next year. 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

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