American Apparel & Footwear Association,update

 

SUBSCRIBE | ABOUT | EVENTS | ADVERTISE | JOIN July 14, 2026   This week in focus: AAFA to host a public briefing on the new Global Industry Glossary of Traceability Terms; additional comments submitted to the USTR; and Steve Lamar heading to Texworld NYC later this month. All this, plus the industry's latest news in today’s Weekly Brief. How to Fight Extreme Heat in Fashion’s Supply Chain July 10: ... In April, the American Apparel & Footwear Association became one of the first major industry bodies to publish heat-stress guidance for apparel and footwear supply chains, calling for monitoring, prevention protocols, training, rest, medical response and supplier engagement. Nate Herman, executive vice president at AAFA, said it was designed to give brands and suppliers practical, actionable steps in the near term, while building towards longer-term interventions. (Source: Business of Fashion) Suppliers to Top Fashion Brands Face a Rising Climate Challenge July 9: ... There are signs the global fashion sector is increasingly recognizing the impacts extreme temperatures pose across their supply chains. The American Apparel & Footwear Association, which represents more than 1,100 companies including Ralph Lauren Corp. and Levi Strauss & Co., in April issued new guidelines on heat stress, urging brands to share responsibility with suppliers. (Source: Bloomberg) Packaging EPR Goes on Trial July 7: Extended producer responsibility for packaging programs in the United States have had some major firsts the last few years. Maine was the first state to pass a packaging EPR law in 2021. Oregon became the first state to begin implementing such a program in 2025. Next week is slated to bring a new milestone: The first packaging EPR lawsuit to go to trial. (Source: Packaging Dive)  Coffins, Paint Rollers and Other Threats to National Security July 10: In this week's episode, our trade insiders discussed the Spain tariff threat and its quick reversal, and what that sequence of events suggests about navigating President Trump’s tariff threats in a post-IEEPA world. The panel also examined how "national security" is being applied as a basis for tariff action across a wide range of products and countries, and discussed the ongoing question about the Congressional role in setting trade law given the Cold-War era measures like Section 301, 122, and 232 are being used for 21st Century economic and national security purposes. (Source: WITA's Friday Exchange) Trade Bodies Challenge U.S. Forced Labor Tariffs July 8: The American Apparel & Footwear Association and the Fair Labor Association have urged the U.S. Trade Representative to rethink proposed Section 301 tariffs linked to forced labor import bans, warning of “direct harm” to already compliant apparel and footwear supply chains. In a joint public comment submitted this week to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the two associations argue that the plan to levy additional duties of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies risks raising landed costs, disrupting supply chains and hurting U.S. businesses, workers and consumers. (Source: Ecotextile News) USMCA: Retail, Manufacturing and Apparel Groups Call for Preservation July 7: ... Below is an excerpt from a letter signed by the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the National Retail Federation, the U.S. Fashion Industry Association and seven other groups spanning the U.S., Canada and Mexico. “Deeply integrated supply chains have developed over decades across all three countries, facilitating substantial trade, investment and jobs in cotton, textiles, apparel, footwear, and retail sectors. To sustain this growth, it is essential to preserve duty-free treatment for USMCA-qualifying goods and maintain strong, enforceable and practical rules of origin." (Source: Supply Chain Dive) U.S. Trade Deficit Widens in May on Record Goods Imports July 7: The United States trade deficit in goods and services widened to $77.6 billion in May as America imported more goods than it sold abroad. Imports rose, climbing 3.3 percent from the previous month, to $395.3 billion, as the United States imported more foreign pharmaceuticals, cellphones, cars and equipment to fill out new data centers. U.S. exports of goods and services fell 3.2 percent in the month, to $317.7 billion, according to data the Commerce Department released on Tuesday. (Source: New York Times) The Impersonation Crisis in Social CX: How Fake Accounts and AI Clones Are Exploiting Customer Trust July 10: ... 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: CX Today) Four States Seeking $1.4 Trillion in Penalties in Child Social Media Addiction Trial, Meta Says July 7: Four states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties from Meta over claims that the social media giant designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and withheld information from the public about the harms the apps pose to young users, Meta said in a court filing on Monday. (Source: FOX Business) Multi-Agency Investigation Leads to Seizure of $7.8M in Fake Merchandise July 3: ... The charges stem from an investigation that began on June 11, following information received by the Gaston County Police Department regarding the alleged sale of counterfeit merchandise. The seized counterfeit items have an estimated Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $7,845,817. (Source: WSOC-TV) Last week in Denver, AAFA hosted 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. #AAFATraceability Traceability terminology:  Following conversations at AAFA's Traceability & Sustainability Conference last week, 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. Section 301 comments and testimony: Last week, AAFA submitted comments to the  U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on the U.S.-China Board of Trade as well as several other submissions in coordination with industry partners. Visit AAFA's news page to review all submitted comments.   As updates related to the U.S.–Iran ceasefire continue to impact global trade, we encourage members to register for tomorrow’s Shipping Roundtable, featuring special guest Alan Murphy, CEO and Founder of Sea-Intelligence. For questions, please contact Audrey Clark.   To keep up with the latest trade news, 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: 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.   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. To attend this panel, register here. Member Welcome: Fairly Made Fairly Made is the leading platform for supply chain traceability and environmental impact measurement for fashion brands in France and Europe. The solution gives fashion brands the tools to map their supply chain, calculate the environmental footprint of their products, assess supplier risks, and communicate their efforts with credibility, including Digital Product Passport readiness. July-September   July 15 | Online: Briefing on New Global Industry Glossary of Traceability Terms 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* Sept. 2 | Online: Webinar: CPSC eFiling Is Live: Turning Certificate Chaos into an Audit-Ready Workflow Sept. 14 | Online: Webinar: PFAS Compliance: From Test Result to Defensible Claim Sept. 15-16 | In-Person: Government Contractors Forum Sept. 16 | Online: Monthly Member-Only Shipping Roundtable* Sept. 30 | Online: Webinar: Better Fit Starts With Better Data   *Member-only content Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars, scheduled events, and member/committee calls. Vietnam: Apparel & Footwear Compliance Conference October 20 | Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam    Plan your sponsorships 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

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