October 6, 2026 This week in focus: Important updates from CBP, small business credit survey, and upcoming Notorious Markets submission. All this and the industry's top news in today's Weekly Brief.
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 Supreme Court's New Term Kicks Off with Blockbuster Climate Change Case
Oct. 5: A new Supreme Court term began Monday with arguments in a blockbuster case about the reach of state power [...] The dispute could have ramifications far beyond the climate, to other areas where states are trying to hold companies accountable for their alleged harms to local communities. (Source: NPR) |
Newsom Vetoes Recycled Content Claims Bill, Blaming ‘Economic Headwinds’
Sept. 28: ... “I share the author’s goal of ensuring that environmental marketing claims are accurate and that consumers can trust the products they buy,” Newsom’s veto message states. “However, I am concerned that expanding these documentation requirements will unduly burden manufacturers and suppliers already facing economic headwinds caused by federal tariff and trade policy actions. Adding new, complex compliance requirements at this time risks compounding those pressures, with little benefit to consumers,” the governor concluded. (Source: Packaging Dive) |
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India-U.S. Trade Talks Hit 'Plateau', Finance Minister Says, as Tariffs Narrow Room for Deal
Oct. 5: Trade deal talks between India and the United States have reached a plateau and further concessions might be difficult, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday, in the latest sign of difficulties in long-running efforts to finalize a bilateral agreement. The comments are New Delhi's strongest public acknowledgement that talks on key issues have stalled for a deal both have sought since February 2025, with an aim to strengthen economic ties and resolve thorny market access issues. (Source: Reuters) |
From China to Canada, How Trump’s Tariff Agenda Keeps Fashion Guessing
Oct. 1: ... Stephen Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, who joined Teitelbaum on stage [...] described Washington’s current diplomatic approach as maintaining “constructive strategic stability,” adding that it was still preferable for the two sides to remain engaged. (Source: Sourcing Journal) |
USTR Section 301 Chinese Ship Fees Still Expire November 9 Despite Bessent’s Truce Extension
Sept. 29: ... On September 23 — one day before the Trump-Xi bilateral talks formally opened — a coalition of more than 200 importers, exporters, carriers, and transportation groups sent USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer a joint suspension extension letter urging him to extend the suspension before the November 9 expiration. The signatories included the National Retail Federation, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America, the World Shipping Council, the International Chamber of Shipping, and the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, among many others. (Source: Tech Times) |
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Trump Taps Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as AI Czar
Oct. 3: Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton was chosen as the Trump administration’s new AI czar, leading its response to artificial intelligence amid growing concerns about the risks of this rapidly evolving technology. Clayton will lead a new White House task force, which will have 120 days to research and report on AI’s risks and opportunities, and offer recommendations on the federal government’s responsibilities regarding the new technology. (Source: CNBC) |
How To Spot And Avoid Amazon Prime Day Scams
Oct. 3: Prime Day on Oct. 6–7 will draw millions of shoppers to Amazon’s site — and just as many scammers hoping to intercept them. Fraud attempts typically spike during major retail events, and July’s Prime Day drove record online spending, creating fertile ground for fake order alerts, spoofed texts and phony account‑renewal messages. (Source: Forbes) |
FTC Seeks Comment on Proposed Rule to Crack Down on Platform Facilitation of Impersonation Scam Ads
Sept. 28: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering whether to impose new requirements on social-media companies, search engines and other online platforms whose advertising systems help impersonation scams reach consumers. In a September 24 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), the FTC requested information about platforms’ ad-optimization tools, financial incentives and efforts to prevent fraudulent advertisers from impersonating government agencies and legitimate businesses. (Source: IP Watchdog) |
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Members of the AAFA team at the L.L.Bean Headquarters in Freeport, ME and the Cole Haan Headquarters in Greenland, NH. |
Input needed on CBP enforcement and upcoming trade meetings: 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 was hosted last week, but there's still time to take part in upcoming calls and efforts. Email Beth Hughes to join the group as you make sure your customs teams are plugged in and have the resources they need to engage in this important effort.
Additionally, AAFA members are encouraged to join upcoming Trade and Customs Committee (TCC) meetings, including a call on October 13 and the in-person meeting in D.C. on November 9 followed by a Lobby Day on November 10. Find additional key dates, resources, and FAQs at our Tariffs 101 hub or connect with Beth Hughes. |
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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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Notorious Markets List comments: As holiday shopping picks up, AAFA is continuing to warn consumers about the Digital Devalue Chain of Counterfeits® and the related dangers. This week, AAFA will submit the Notorious Markets List (NML) 2026 submission to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Upcoming For questions on this work, contact Jennifer Hanks. 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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October-November Oct. 7 | In-Person: AAFA Board of Directors Meeting Fall 2026* Oct. 14 | Online: Webinar: Traceability as a Management System: Getting the Fundamentals Right Oct. 20 | In-Person: Vietnam: Apparel & Footwear Compliance Conference Oct. 22 | In-Person: Cambodia Social Responsibility Workshop Oct. 26 | In-Person: Hanoi Social Responsibility Workshop Nov. 9 | In-Person: Trade and Customs Committee November 2026 Meeting* Nov. 10 | In-Person: Trade and Customs Committee November 2026 Lobby Day* Nov. 16 | Online: Webinar: The State of Bangladesh Nov. 16 | In-Person: BPC Platform Engagement with AAFA Members* Nov. 17 | In-Person: Brand Protection Council November 2026 Meeting* Nov. 18 | In-Person: AAFA Brand Protection Lobby Day* Nov. 18 | Online: Webinar: Preparing for EUFLR: Strengthening Supply Chain Evidence and Intelligence Nov. 23 | Online: AAFA Member-Only Briefing on Impact of Elections on Industry* *Member-only content Monday, November 16
2:00 PM ET to 3:00 PM ET | Online |
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Webinar: The State of Bangladesh: Sourcing Times Report Insights |
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This webinar provides an executive debrief of The Sourcing Times: Bangladesh Report, examining how the country’s apparel and textile sector is evolving beyond its traditional position as a high-volume, low-cost sourcing market. Led by report author Brooke Roberts-Islam, the session explores labor reform and compliance, trade dynamics and LDC graduation, vertical integration, Tier 2 and 3 sourcing opportunities, circularity, renewable energy, and manufacturing innovation.
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Attendees of this webinar will learn: How Bangladesh is evolving beyond a high-volume, low-cost sourcing market. To identify key opportunities across compliance, vertical integration, circularity, and Tier 2/3 sourcing. To apply practical criteria to assess sourcing decisions through capability, resilience, and total landed cost.
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Brooke Roberts-Islam
Journalist and Consultant
TechStyler
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| Assef Shaikh
Chief Executive Officer
Harnest
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Audrey Clark
Manager, Trade and Transportation
AAFA
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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. |
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| Keep up on speaker announcements with #AAFASummit |
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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