American Apparel & Footwear Association,update

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October 27, 2026

This week in focus: Updates on shipping fees, packaging EPR developments, and the industry's top news in today's Weekly Brief.

How Many T-Shirts Can Be Made in a Minute?

Oct. 26: ... On both sides of the coin — in linear and circular supply chains — time is money, but the relationship between speed and sustainability is not that simple. Faster decisions and more flexible production can let brands commit to holding less stock, replenish the hits that sell, and avoid some of the markdowns and unsold inventory that are routinely baked into seasonal forecasting. (Source: Vogue Business)

Jordan, ILO Ink Agreement to Improve Garment Industry Working Conditions

Oct. 19: The Ministry of Labor and the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Monday signed an agreement launching the "Better Work and Labor Governance to Support Jordan’s Garment Sector" project to improve working conditions, protect workers’ rights, and boost labor governance across the industry. (Source: Jordan News Agency)

BGMEA Launches ‘ESG Platform’ to Drive Sustainability and Global Compliance in Apparel Sector

Oct. 19: The platform aims to play a vital role in meeting global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance requirements and adapting to evolving international market demands. (Source: Textile Today Bangladesh)

USTR Proposes Two-Month Extension of Port Fee Pause for Chinese Ships

Oct. 26: ... More than 200 trade associations including the National Retail Federation (NRF), American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA) and the World Shipping Council (WSC) had already urged USTR to extend the suspension, with the groups having urged the government to push back any resumption of port fees. The associations had warned that the additional fees would layer new surcharges onto landed costs for importers and exporters alike. (Source: Sourcing Journal)

How Tariffs Became the Most Hated Word in Politics

Oct. 23: ... Under the constitution, Congress has authority over tariffs, which it delegates to the president in specific circumstances. Had Trump asked Congress to raise tariffs selectively, such as on China or on particularly sensitive industries, both parties might have gone along. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

Trump’s 50% Canada Tariffs Challenged in Court

Oct. 20: ...The suit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade Tuesday on behalf of food importing company Gellert Global Group, alleges that President Donald Trump overstepped his executive powers by implementing a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canada goods earlier this year and that the trade policy disrupted supplier relationships while adding costs for the family-run business. The suit asks for the court to strike down the levies, block their collection and order refunds. (Source: Supply Chain Dive)

Rhode Island Sues Meta Over Alleged Tolerance for Scam Advertising

Oct. 22: Rhode Island sued Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab in state court on Thursday over the company's alleged tolerance for widespread scam advertising on its Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms. The suit, filed by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha in Providence Superior Court, accuses Meta of unlawfully profiting from and participating in the creation of billions of dollars in scam advertising – even as it assured its billions of users that it was working diligently to protect them. (Source: Reuters)

Looted Goods From French Stores Flood Resale Sites After Riots

Oct. 22: The online listings started appearing just hours after the looting in France. For sale were a variety of items — handbags, skin care products, lip glosses — suspected of being stolen by people who had smashed windows and emptied stores in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities over the weekend. (Source: New York Times)

TikTok Shop Announces Three-Week Black Friday-Cyber Monday Promotions

Oct. 21: ... Nommensen is pitching TikTok Shop as the place where holiday shopping lists are not only inspired, but eventually purchased. He said hashtags like #holidayshopping rose 263% in September, adding that shoppers on TikTok are looking for ideas for “what to buy, what to gift, what to wear, and what to cook this holiday season.” (Source: Retail Brew)

AAFA, WRAP, and TAFTAC representatives at the Cambodia Social Responsibility Workshop in Phnom Penh.

AAFA in Phnom Penh and Hanoi:

We were proud to host the Cambodia Social Responsibility Workshop in Phnom Penh last week and the Hanoi Social Responsibility Workshop this week, put on with AAFA's official Corporate Social Responsibility Partner, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). Special thank you to the Textile, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods Association (TAFTAC) and the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) for their incredible support. These workshops followed the Vietnam: Apparel & Footwear Compliance Conference, where apparel and footwear factory executives, directors, managers, and their leadership teams came together for presentations on compliance in Ho Chi Minh City.

Packaging EPR in the U.S. and EU:

As packaging EPR programs continue to develop across jurisdictions, AAFA is hosting a joint member-only call with the Policy Hub team to discuss the latest news from the U.S. and the European Union on November 2.

AAFA members are also encouraged to join upcoming Environmental Committee meetings, including the in-person meeting in D.C. on November 19. For questions, please reach out to Chelsea Murtha.

Updates on shipping fees: 

Earlier this week, the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative put out a Federal Register Notice proposing further suspension of Section 301 ship fees on Chinese vessels to January 9. To be involved in AAFA's comments on the matter, please reach out to AAFA's Audrey Clark and sign up for our upcoming Shipping Roundtables on October 28, November 18, and December 16.

FTC comment opportunity:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking feedback to inform a decision on whether to update the rule on impersonation of government and businesses to address platforms’ role in promoting impersonation scams. Any specific member feedback should be provided to AAFA's Jennifer Hanks by this Friday, October 30. AAFA members will also have a chance to connect with the FTC directly on this topic in D.C. during in-person brand protection meetings 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.

Upcoming trade meetings and calls: 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is collecting comments as part of its Federal Register notice on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Heightened Import Disclosures for Supply Chain Visibility. AAFA's 'Customs EO Working Group' is working to develop detailed feedback on 64 questions covering additional and advanced data and information CBP could require at entry. Email Beth Hughes to join the group and upcoming calls to make sure your customs teams are plugged in to support this project.

AAFA members are also encouraged to join upcoming Trade and Customs Committee (TCC) meetings, including the in-person meeting in D.C. on November 9 and Lobby Day on November 10. Find additional key dates, resources, and FAQs at our Tariffs 101 hub or connect with Beth Hughes.

Small business credit survey:

The Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey provides owners and key financial decision-makers of for-profit businesses with the opportunity to share your recent experiences about what financial conditions you face, whether and how you use debt, and more. 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 before it closes on November 13.

October-December

Nov. 2 | Online: AAFA and Policy Hub Member-Only Call: Packaging EPR in the U.S. and EU*

Nov. 9 | In-Person: Trade and Customs Committee November 2026 Meeting*

Nov. 10 | In-Person: Trade and Customs Committee November 2026 Lobby Day*

Nov. 12 | Online : Webinar Training on AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit

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*

Dec. 2 | Online: Webinar Training on AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit

Dec. 2 | Online: Webinar: The Label Is the Link: RFID, DPP, and the Connected Product

*Member-only content

2027 AAFA Global Supply Chain
& Trade Conference

June 8-9, 2027

Portland, Oregon

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.

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.