July 7, 2026 This week in focus: traceability takes center stage in Denver and at upcoming AAFA events; Section 301 comments address forced labor investigations; the USMCA was not renewed; and the Notorious Markets submission is underway. All this and more in today’s Weekly Brief. |
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As Temperatures Rise, Companies ‘Flying Blind’ on Heat Stress Risk July 6: ... As American Apparel & Footwear Association’s executive vice president Nate Herman notes, an effective response to heat stress requires brands, suppliers and worker groups to act together. Without support from upstream commercial actors, suppliers may be “disproportionately” affected by additional compliance costs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the majority of workplace heat exposure occurs. (Source: Reuters) |
America at 250: Can the U.S. Get the World to Join Its Forced Labor Fight? July 1: ... The American Apparel & Footwear Association, too, has warned that losing ILAB’s grants, which help stamp out opportunities for “less scrupulous foreign businesses to profit from labor abuses,” turns “an even playing field” into “an uphill battle” for its members and their 3.5 million U.S. workers. “The irony is that you have a lot of countries agreeing to implement forced labor statutes—exactly what is being asked for in Section 301 investigations—but we’ve eliminated all technical capacity to help them set it up, so it really seems to undercut the argument here,” Herman said. “If you really wanted to address the issue, tariffs are not the best way to do that.” (Source: Sourcing Journal) |
How SB 707, EPR Laws and EU Rules Reshape Fashion Supply Chains June 29: ... In the absence of a national strategy for sustainability and circularity, states are taking their own initiatives. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws have emerged across several states. Currently 34 states have existing EPR laws in place. The laws span a variety of product categories, but regulation is most commonly on electronics with over 22 states having laws. Packaging has been a growing focus recently with 7 states including Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington passing legislation that transcends product categories. (Source: Forbes) |
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Will Trump’s New Tariffs Wipe Out Importers’ IEEPA Refunds? July 6: ... At the beginning of June, USTR announced a new set of tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on more than 99% of U.S. imports, asserting that trading partners had failed to fully prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor. The agency justified the new tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the U.S. government to impose tariffs and other trade restrictions in response to what it declares to be “unjustifiable,” “unreasonable” or “discriminatory” trade practices. (Source: Supply Chain Brain) |
Fashion’s Big Supply Chain Stress Test July 6: ... Across the industry, the response has varied from one brand to the next, and the changes are revealing: deeper reliance on trusted suppliers, longer lead-time assumptions, selective safety stock on core products, more attention to freight exposure and a sharper understanding that resilience is not simply a matter of having more options, but of knowing which options will actually hold under pressure. (Source: Vogue Business) |
Apparel, Textile, Retail Trade Bodies Issue Joint Call for USMCA Renewal July 3: ... A letter to USTR Ambassador Greer, Secretary Ebrard, and Minister LeBlanc, signed by several organizations representing the textile, apparel, footwear, and retail industries including the American Apparel & Footwear Association, NRF, FDRA, USFIA, RILA, Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales, A.C. (ANTAD), Cámara Nacional de la Industria del Vestido (CANAIVE) Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF), Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors (NAUMD) and Retail Council of Canada (RCC), was in support of preserving the trilateral framework of the USMCA. (Source: Just Style) |
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Can Apparel Circularity Survive a Flood of Fakes? July 6: Drawing on fresh American Apparel & Footwear Association testing data and following on from a recent Ecotextile News podcast, the session will explore how counterfeit football shirts, fanwear and other fake apparel products are routinely failing basic safety tests – with elevated levels of phthalates, PFAS, heavy metals and formaldehyde – before leaking into donation, resale and recycling streams. (Source: Ecotextile News) |
CBP Modernizes Low-Value Shipment Processing June 25: U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued new rules that modernize and strengthen how the agency processes low-value shipments at U.S. borders. Following the president’s Executive Order, “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries,” which went into effect Aug. 29, 2025, the new rules ensure that all low-value shipments are subject to consistent enforcement across every mode of entry. (Source: Homeland Security Today) |
 Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Innovation
June 25: Throughout the past 250 years, American innovators have saved lives, protected our freedoms, and created economic prosperity. Patents and trademarks have been central to that story. Beginning with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and taking viewers on a journey through history to the present day, this film reveals how American innovators — and the intellectual property system — have played a pivotal role in shaping American society from the beginning. (Source: USPTO) |
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Last week, America celebrated its 250th Birthday! AAFA is continuing the celebration by sharing the stories of people and products that have shaped American culture in our #250YearsofFashion archival platform. |
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Traceability in the spotlight: This week, AAFA hosts the Traceability & Sustainability Conference, bringing together compliance, supply chain, and corporate social responsibility professionals to explore the industry’s rapidly increasing need for transparency and sustainability across the global supply chain. A special thank you to our sponsors and our fantastic lineup of speakers. Following conversations at AAFA's Traceability & Sustainability Conference, AAFA will host a public briefing on its new Global Industry Glossary of Traceability Terms on Wednesday, July 15. All industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend. This session will provide an overview of the background and development of the glossary, its key goals, and a preview of its contents. Attendees will also learn about next steps and how the glossary will support greater alignment and clarity across traceability efforts in the industry. For questions, please reach out to Nate Herman. |
AAFA's Beth Hughes testifying before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on the Section 301 Investigation on Brazil. |
Section 301 comments and testimony: This week, AAFA submitted comments in response to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Federal Register notices on proposed Section 301 tariffs, in coordination with industry partners including National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the Fair Labor Association, and the Forced Labor Working Group. Yesterday, AAFA's Beth Hughes testified before the USTR on Section 301 tariffs related to Brazil. Additionally, AAFA recently submitted comments on Vietnam’s Intellectual Property designation.
Separately, last week the USTR announced that the U.S. will not undertake a formal renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), transitioning instead to an annual review process. In response, AAFA joined a joint industry letter addressing the new review approach.
To keep up with the latest trade news, members are encouraged to get involved in AAFA's Forced Labor Working Group, Social Responsibility Committee, Trade and Customs Committee, and our next member-only tariff call on Monday, July 27 for detailed updates and opportunities to advocate for the industry. Talk to Beth Hughes, Nate Herman, or Maureen Storch to get involved. |
Input requested for Notorious Markets List nominations: Each August, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) opens the comment period for the Notorious Markets List (NML), seeking input on markets that facilitate trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy. AAFA is now collecting member input on platforms to nominate for inclusion in AAFA’s submission by August 1. See here for AAFA's NML submission from last year. To provide feedback, please connect with Jennifer Hanks. Last week, AAFA provided a letter for the record for the June 30 hearing held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, “A Midlife Crisis? IP and the Internet After 40". |
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Member Welcome: Boot Barn |
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| What started out as one store in 1978 has since become the largest western and work wear retailer in the nation. We say that our customers feed America, build America, and protect America. With an uncompromising desire to support the local communities we serve, we proudly offer the broadest selection of cowboy boots, work boots, western wear, workwear, western-inspired fashion, and outdoor gear. It is an honor to support the varying lifestyles of the people who make our country so great. Our vision is simple: to offer a piece of the American spirit. Learn more. |
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Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars, scheduled events, and member/committee calls. |
| Plan your sponsorships 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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