In Brief

Border adjustment tax (BAT) update: Today, the Americans for Affordable Products (AAP) coalition sent a letter to the Congressional leadership, expressing opposition to the House Republican plan to border adjust income taxes as part of a larger package of comprehensive tax reform. The coalition has also announced that its membership, including AAFA, has grown to more than 200 and represents the largest employment sector in the nation. AAP members speak for nearly one out of every four U.S. jobs – more than 42 million in total. The coalition’s concern is that those jobs would be severely threatened under the BAT. Learn more here.

Additionally, AAFA held an open-industry session at MAGIC on February 22 to provide updates and educate the industry on the proposal to an overcapacity room. Get involved and join thousands of your colleagues by telling Congress how this provision could impact your business here.

AAFA partners with The Hub: On February 21, AAFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) East Africa Trade and Investment Hub to support best-in-class manufacturing in East Africa. As part of the agreement, AAFA will represent the industry and advocate before country governments in East Africa and encourage the development of sustainable operations in the region. More information about the agreement is available via just-style, Sourcing Journal, and Women’s Wear Daily.

A big week in Washington: AAFA will host the Executive Committee Meeting today at the AAFA office in Washington, followed by the Spring Board of Directors Meeting tomorrow and our AAFA Executive Summit at The Watergate Hotel on Wednesday and Thursday. Whether you are attending or can’t make it this year, follow along with #AAFASummit17. We are excited to welcome more than 200 attendees and a fantastic slate of speakers. Questions? Contact Susan Lapetina, AAFA's Senior Vice President of Education and Corporate Marketing.

Farewell to Danielle Iverson: Please join us in saying farewell to Danielle Iverson, AAFA’s Director of Government Relations, who will be joining the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) in March. During her 4+ year tenure with AAFA, Danielle moved from an internship position to anchoring and transforming AAFA’s product safety, RSL, and labeling initiatives — bringing new tools, resources, and thought leadership on these critical issues for AAFA members. Although Danielle’s last day will be March 3, she will not be leaving the greater AAFA family as we do a lot of work with JPMA. The AAFA team wishes Danielle much success in her next endeavor. Going forward, questions regarding product safety matters may be sent to Kristen Kern. Labeling questions may be sent to Nate Herman.