American Apparel & Footwear Association,update

Wednesday, August 26 2:00 PM ET to 3:00 PM ET | Online Register Webinar: U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol x Oritain: Raising The Bar for Sustainability in Apparel Sustainability in apparel has matured past broad commitments and category-level claims. Consumers are looking for data and traceability behind the materials they wear and are holding brands to a higher standard of proof. To meet that, brands need trusted, verifiable data that gives them greater confidence in the materials they are sourcing. The Trust Protocol is committed to driving continuous improvement in the production of U.S. cotton through transparent, verifiable data, and together with Oritain, they offer the highest level of end-to-end traceability in the industry. Join Liz Hershfield from US Cotton Trust Protocol and Josh Biss from Oritain to discover: How consumer expectations are guiding sourcing decisions and what brands are now expected to prove. How verified field-level data and product traceability support sustainable supply chains. How brands sourcing U.S. cotton are using digital and physical verification to future-proof their business. Speakers: Liz Hershfield Co-Director US Cotton Trust Protocol Josh Biss Senior Account Executive Oritain AAFA Host: Conor O’Brien Sustainability Policy Specialist AAFA Sponsored By: Our webinars provide the apparel and footwear industry with educational content focused on niche, innovative concepts and successful business practices. Contact AAFA Events for information about conducting an AAFA webinar. July 21, 2026   This week in focus: New tariffs on Brazil and more on the horizon; Notorious Markets List nominations due August 1; and CPSC eFiling guidance. All this, plus the industry's latest news in today’s Weekly Brief. On the Line: Bangladesh’s Garment Sector Faces Growing Human Rights Crisis July 17: Factory closures and layoffs across Bangladesh are escalating into an acute human rights crisis, a French human rights organization warned in a report Wednesday. Between August 2024 and this past June, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France reported that 457 factories ceased operations, leaving roughly 240,000 workers unemployed. Of these, it said 205 closures were attributed to insufficient production orders, 190 to financial difficulties, 11 to labor unrest and 51 to miscellaneous factors such as political instability, banking complications, gas and electricity shortages, raw material scarcity and factory relocation. (Source: Sourcing Journal) Apparel Regulations Overview 2026: Care Label, Safety Testing, and Sustainability July 16: Global apparel regulations are tightening. In 2026, enforcement risk increasingly sits at the intersection of product safety, apparel care label regulations, and substantiated marketing claims. For apparel brands and manufacturers, the cost of getting clothing regulations wrong can mean shipment holds, recalls, penalties, delisting, and lasting reputational damage. (Source: Fashion United) California Blocked from Enforcing Upcoming ‘Truth in Labeling’ Law July 15: A judge in California has granted a preliminary injunction that will block upcoming enforcement of SB 343, the groundbreaking “truth in labeling” law passed in 2021 that aimed to reduce consumer confusion by ensuring that packaging does not feature recyclability symbols like the chasing arrows unless certain criteria are met. (Source: Packaging Dive) India to Ban Import of Goods Made Using Forced Labor Amid U.S. Probe July 14: India has prohibited the import of goods produced using forced labor, the trade ministry said on Tuesday, in a move that could help avert new tariffs from a probe by the United States. The Asian nation is one of the several countries facing proposed new ⁠U.S. trade tariffs of up to 12.5% over allegations they failed to prohibit import of goods produced with forced labor. (Source: Reuters) Trump’s 50% Tariff on Canada is a Warning to the Rest of the World July 21: On Monday, President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Canadian imports, marking one of the steepest duties to take effect since the Supreme Court struck down his most sweeping tariffs earlier this year. The administration framed the move as a response to what it says is Canada’s longstanding trade barriers. But the decision sends a message to every other US trading partner: You could be next. (Source: CNN) North American Trade Pact Review Unsettles Fashion Sourcing Plans July 20: “Companies are scratching their heads looking for stable and competitive sourcing regions,” says Steve Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). “While companies remain stumped by where to go, many are maintaining their sourcing relationships in China, not because it is their preferred option, but because the alternatives lack the predictability needed to justify major investments.” (Source: Vogue Business) More Trump Tariffs Are Coming July 20: At a moment when inflation and affordability are on virtually everyone’s mind in America, Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, said the Trump administration was planning a new slate of tariffs. Ana Swanson, who covers international trade for The New York Times and spoke to Mr. Greer, explains why Greer thinks the policy has been a success. (Source: The Daily) What Trump’s 25% Brazil Tariffs Could Mean for the American Footwear Sector July 17: ...“We are deeply disappointed by the Administration’s decision to impose a stacked 25 percent tariff on imports from Brazil, continuing to add disproportionate cost burdens on U.S. companies and American families,” American Apparel & Footwear Association president and CEO Steve Lamar told Sourcing Journal. “Brazil has been a growing sourcing leader for our industry, particularly footwear, in the effort to diversify out of China. These tariffs will undermine Brazil as a critical sourcing alternative; disrupting long-term investments from U.S. that threatens to send companies right back to China,” he added. (Source: Sourcing Journal) EU Hits AliExpress With a Record 550 Million-Euro Fine Over Unsafe and Counterfeit Goods July 20: The European Commission on Monday fined Chinese online marketplace AliExpress 550 million euros ($629 million) for failing to adequately crack down on the sale of unsafe and counterfeit products on its site. The fine, the biggest ever imposed for breaches of the 27-nation European Union’s Digital Services Act, comes just months after another online retailer, Temu, was fined 200 million euros for similar breaches. Last year, Brussels issued a $120 million penalty for Elon Musk’s social media site X. (Source: Associated Press) IP Strategy Updated to Strengthen National Growth, Competitiveness July 7: ... As social platforms become customer service channels, impersonation is becoming a customer experience problem, and a security threat. The same channels brands use to deliver convenient customer experiences are increasingly being exploited by fraudsters impersonating customer support teams, executives and trusted brands. (Source: Viet Nam News) The Illegal Business of Fake World Cup Jerseys July 12: The European Commission on Monday fined Chinese online marketplace AliExpress 550 million euros ($629 million) for failing to adequately crack down on the sale of unsafe and counterfeit products on its site. The fine, the biggest ever imposed for breaches of the 27-nation European Union’s Digital Services Act, comes just months after another online retailer, Temu, was fined 200 million euros for similar breaches. Last year, Brussels issued a $120 million penalty for Elon Musk’s social media site X. (Source: Business Insider) New tariffs and tariff threats: In recent news from D.C., the Trump Administration announced yesterday that it plans to impose Section 338 tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada on a variety of products, including some travel goods, textiles, apparel, footwear, and hats, starting August 19. Notably, these new tariffs do not exempt USMCA-qualifying goods.   Last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) imposed a 25 percent Section 301 tariff on certain imports from Brazil including all apparel and footwear. Earlier this month, AAFA's Beth Hughes testified on behalf of the industry during the USTR's investigation. Read her full testimony here. AAFA’s Audrey Clark will testify this Thursday in support of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).    As we anticipate further trade policy announcements in the coming weeks, members can 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. Notorious Markets List nominations due August 1: Summer is an important time for anticounterfeiting awareness. Not only is the new school year around the corner, but time is running out for your comments as part of AAFA’s annual submission to USTR’s Notorious Markets List (NML). AAFA is currently collecting phase one  member input on platforms to nominate for inclusion in AAFA’s submission due August 1. See here for AAFA's NML submission from last year. To provide feedback, please connect with Jennifer Hanks.   Coming up on July 29, AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar, will speak on a panel in New York City as part of Texworld NYC, the largest textile and apparel sourcing trade show on the East Coast, moderated by Ecotextile News editor Haydn Davis. Steve will be joined by former AAFA Chair of the Board Colin Browne of David Yurman as well as Elizabeth Richman of Eileen Fisher Inc. Product safety in focus: With the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) eFiling requirement now in effect as of July 8, this is an important time for members to stay engaged in new product regulations. AAFA's Product Safety Council helps companies navigate evolving product safety and chemical management requirements, including eFiling implementation. Join the next Council meeting tomorrow, July 22, at 2:00 PM ET. To learn more or get involved, contact Conor O'Brien. Member Welcome: Deda Stealth Deda Stealth empowers Fashion & Luxury Retail brands to optimize and master every stage of their business processes through AI-powered, data-driven technology solutions. Backed by more than 40 years of experience in the fashion technology market, we help companies drive innovation, efficiency, and growth across the entire value chain. July-September   July 23 | Online: AAFA Member Briefing on DOL Forced/Child Labor Tools* July 27 | Online: AAFA Member-Only Call on Tariffs* Aug. 19 | Online: Webinar: Intelligent Automation: Speed and Responsibility — Can Our Industry Have Both? Aug. 26 | Online: Briefing: Responsible Sourcing in the Face of Tariffs* Aug. 26 | Online: USCTP x Oritain: Raising the Bar for Sustainability in Apparel Sept. 2 | Online: Webinar: CPSC eFiling Is Live: Turning Certificate Chaos into an Audit-Ready Workflow Sept. 9 | Online: Webinar: Getting Data-Ready for the Next Wave of Regulation Sept. 14 | Online: Webinar: PFAS Compliance: From Test Result to Defensible Claim Sept. 15-16 | In-Person: Government Contractors Forum Sept. 23 | Online: The DPP Countdown: Is Your Product Data Ready? Sept. 30 | Online: Webinar: Better Fit Starts With Better Data   *Member-only content 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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