September 29, 2026 This week in focus: Industry input on CBP enforcement, trade and transportation resources, and the upcoming Notorious Markets List submission. All this and the industry's top news in today's Weekly Brief.
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What Do the EU’s New Greenwashing Rules Mean for Fashion?
Sept. 24: Unsubstantiated fashion terms like “sustainable”, “green” and “planet-friendly” are about to become relics of fashion’s unregulated past. Europe is strengthening its consumer protection laws to clamp down on greenwashing with the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (known as EmpCo) that, starting September 27, will require all sustainability claims to be proven by third-party evidence like a certification or government backed label. Certain claims, such as carbon offsetting or carbon neutrality, are completely blacklisted. (Source: Vogue Business) |
How Manufacturers Can Improve Factory Sustainability Through AI Sept. 24: As manufacturers look to adopt emerging technologies to reshape their operations and become more competitive, they also have an opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence for an often overlooked reason: improving sustainability. Technologies such as AI-enabled management systems, digital twins and automated sorting are helping companies save energy and develop more circular economies that repurpose waste streams within their operations, experts said on a panel at Climate Week NYC 2026 on Tuesday. (Source: ESG Dive) |
Fashion’s Heat Problem is Becoming a Business Problem
Sept. 22: When the American Apparel & Footwear Association launched its heat-stress toolkit at Cascale’s annual meeting in Athens on Thursday, it marked the industry’s most significant effort yet to confront the escalating threat that rising global temperatures pose to garment workers. It also served as a tacit admission from supply-chain leaders that whatever playbook they have relied on to confront climate change’s social impacts can no longer withstand the record heat upending conditions on the production floor. (Source: Sourcing Journal) |
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India Trade Minister to Visit U.S. for Deal Talks, New Delhi Says
Sept. 28: India's trade minister will hold talks with his counterparts in the United States over the next week to advance a proposed deal between the two countries and finalise an interim agreement, the government said on Monday. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the US from September 29 to October 5, and also join a G20 trade ministers' meeting in Wisconsin, at the invitation of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, India's government said. (Source: Reuters) |
U.S.-China Trade Board Carves Path for Tariff Relief on $60B of Goods Sept. 28: ... How much tariffs could be reduced and when they could occur was not detailed in documentation released by the White House. Future duty reductions for U.S. imports and China imports covered in the arrangement “will be determined and implemented in accordance with each side’s domestic legal processes,” per a terms of reference document. (Source: Supply Chain Dive) |
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TikTok Shop Pushes to Become a Mainstream Marketplace
Sept. 24: In July, TikTok Shop rolled out a paid membership program called TikTok Shop Plus that’s similar to Amazon Prime, with price tiers ranging from $6–$15 a month. The service offers paid members perks like free shipping, member discounts, and other coupons. (Source: Retail Brew) |
 Deep Dive: Preparing Store Associates for the AI-Powered Shopper
Sept. 24: Shoppers are walking into stores armed with more than a shopping list. AI is helping them research products, compare prices and evaluate brands before they ever arrive, creating a new challenge for associates who need to answer increasingly specific questions while keeping the in-store experience moving. The opportunity for retailers isn’t simply adding more AI. It’s giving associates accurate information at exactly the moment they need it. (Source: Retail Touchpoints) |
AI Takes a Bigger Role in U.S. Halloween Shopping
Sept. 24: ... The survey found that 47% were using AI platforms or tools to support their Halloween shopping. The NRF cited brainstorming ideas and seeking recommendations during product research as leading uses, at 34% and 32% respectively. Its published results do not establish whether AI influenced what shoppers ultimately bought. (Source: Retail Insight) |
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This September, the AAFA team was busy traveling and representing our industry across the globe! (Left to right) Steve Lamar at the Sourcing Journal Summit in New York City, Conor O'Brien at the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Responsibility Summit in Denver, Audrey Clark at the Vietnam Footwear Summit in Ho Chi Minh City, and Jennifer Hanks at the American Icons Event with the Congressional Trademark Caucus in Washington, D.C. |
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Small business credit survey: The Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey is now open, and AAFA is an annual partner in this effort. The Federal Reserve is asking owners and key financial decision-makers of for-profit businesses to share your recent experiences about what financial conditions you face, whether and how you use debt, and more. Your perspective matters. Answers to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. Take the 12-minute survey now before it closes on November 13. |
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Transportation updates and shipping roundtables: Transportation is still being critically impacted by the ongoing U.S./Iran conflict. For updates on how this disruption is impacting our industry, AAFA members can join Shipping Roundtable calls on October 21 and November 18. For questions, please reach out to Audrey Clark. |
Important member input needed on CBP enforcement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made it clear that customs enforcement is about to get significantly more serious. In response to CBP’s Federal Register notice on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Heightened Import Disclosures for Supply Chain Visibility, AAFA has launched a Customs EO Working Group to develop detailed feedback on 64 questions covering additional and advanced data and information CBP could require at entry. The first Working Group call is this Wednesday, September 30 at 3:30 PM ET (email Beth Hughes to join). Please make sure your customs teams are plugged in and have the resources they need to engage right away. |
Notorious Markets List comments: Last week, AAFA filed an initial submission to the European Commission’s Public Consultation on the 2027 Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List and has plans to expand on the initial comments with feedback gathered during the Notorious Markets List (NML) process.
AAFA is working to draft the association’s 2026 submission to the NML for the annual report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
To get more involved in this work, contact Jennifer Hanks and join the next Brand Protection Council (BPC) call on October 5. AAFA will also host in-person meetings in D.C. from November 16-18. The platform meeting is held on November 16 with Alibaba, Amazon, DHGate, Meta, Temu, TikTok, and TikTok Shop set to join.
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Heat Stress Toolkit launched: In case you missed it, earlier this month, AAFA launched a new AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit at Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2026. This toolkit provides manufacturers and brands with practical tools to help manage rising global temperatures and workplace heat-related incidents across production regions. This open-industry resource was made possible due to the support of the AAFA Heat Guidance Working Group and the Fashion Producer Collective (FPC) which developed the manufacturer-specific guidelines and workbook. This resource was also created with the support of key contributing authors including Elevate Textiles, Inc., Epic Group, Shahi Exports, and YKK Corporation, with additional review support from Crescent Bahuman Ltd, MAS Capital (Pvt) Ltd., TAL Apparel, Yee Chain International, and the Vaada Hope Foundation. |
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| Glimpact is a sustainability technology company dedicated to enabling major industry players to facilitate their ecological transition. |
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| Plan your sponsorships 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. |
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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 3.24 million U.S. workers, and its contribution of more than $561 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. AAFA drives progress on three key priorities: Brand Protection; Supply Chain & Sourcing; 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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