November 22: President-elect Donald Trump unveiled plans Monday for his first 100 days in office, including proposals related to immigration, trade deals and defense policy, using a video published online to briefly outline his proposals. ... Among his first actions, the Republican said he would "issue our notification of intent to withdraw from the Transpacific Partnership" and replace it with negotiating "fair bilateral trade deals." (Source: CNN)
See the original message from President-elect Trump here.
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November 22: The Chinese government will rejoice to hear Donald Trump promise that the US will quit the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on his first day in the White House. For years, Beijing has listened to the Obama administration say the 12-nation regional trade deal was a way of bolstering American leadership in Asia. China was not included in the deal, and President Barack Obama went out of his way to remind the region that this was no accident. TPP allows America - and not countries like China - to write the rules of the road in the 21st Century, which is especially important in a region as dynamic as the Asia-Pacific. ( Source: BBC)
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November 17: ... Donald Trump made no secret that he was not happy with the North American Free Trade Agreement, calling the accord between the United States, Mexico and Canada "the worst trade deal" the United States had ever signed. ... "It is well established that CAFTA and NAFTA are critical for the U.S. textile and apparel industry," said Steve Lamar, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association in Washington, D.C. "The things we have continued to argue is how to find ways to make it better. ... NAFTA was negotiated when there were no other free-trade agreements and the world was surrounded by quotas and rules of origin that catered to the United States. But the industry has evolved." ( Source: California Apparel News)
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November 21: Twenty-two Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee signed a letter sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan on Monday asking Congress not to adjourn for the year until lawmakers approve a fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. The letter points out the 54-year streak in which Congress has passed a defense policy bill, and says this year's bill is just as important because of provisions it includes on military healthcare reforms, a pay raise for troops, and efforts to restore readiness. (Source: Washington Examiner)
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November 17: ... Low freight rates, as well as overcapacity, lit the match that fired Hanjin’s flameout, but those two issues have been shared by the shipping industry at large. And while low fuel prices earlier in the year provided a little cushion for the carriers, that padding has since disappeared. ... global container volume is on track for the worst year since 2009 and container lines expect to report between $8 and $10 billion in losses collectively for the coming year. ( Source: Sourcing Journal - article unlocked)
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November 21: ... Since the morning of November 9, individuals from virtually every industry have been asking questions, seeking insights and wondering what a Trump Administration will mean not only for the country, but for their specific interests. Although the tech industry is big in America, the industry itself was not big on the idea of a Trump presidency. Trump, however, did have one very vocal supporter from the tech community: German-American entrepreneur, billionaire venture capitalist and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. ... Being perhaps the only Silicon Valley voice within the Trump camp, Thiel’s views could very well affect how Trump considers matters of innovation policy, including patent reform, which has simmered on Capitol Hill for much of the last decade. (Source: IP Watchdog)
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November 18: Like millions of Chinese consumers, last week’s Singles’ Day event saw Wang Hai racing against time to snap up discounts on the country’s online shopping platforms. But unlike others looking to close China’s biggest annual shopping day with a bargain, Wang had decided to spend close to 1 million yuan ($145,000) on fake products he found online so that he could claim compensation of up to 10 million yuan. Wang is one of China’s fake goods hunters — people who deliberately buy counterfeit products and then claim back compensation from the companies who make them. ( Source: Sixth Tone)
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November 18: ... Perhaps the main message from the day was that the legislative action that we’ve seen from both the US Senate and the House of Representatives over the last three years will be placed on hold, at least in the short term, as the executive branch and Congress work their way through a list of more urgent policy priorities. ... USPTO Director Michelle Lee predicted that once patent reform did come back on the agenda it would be more targeted than previous, more comprehensive proposals. (Source: IAM)
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In Brief
Thanks-giving spirit! Help AAFA and K.I.D.S/Fashion Delivers raise one million pairs: AAFA has partnered with K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers to supply one million pairs of socks to the nation’s homeless. Donations began on October 10, in honor of World Homeless Day, and will continue throughout the following 12 months. To date, the companies DSW Inc., GBG Socks, LLC/Planet Sox, Gold Medal International, Gymboree, High Point LLC, No nonsense, Renfro Corporation, TTI Global Resources, and United Legwear & Apparel Co., among others, have combined to commit more than 750,000 pairs of socks to people in need. Any company interested in donating new socks for this campaign may email Merrie Keller at merrie@donateproduct.com or call (212) 279-5325. Show your support on social media using #OneMillionPairs. More information is available at www.OneMillionPairs.org.
Meet AAFA’s Legwear Committee: AAFA’s Legwear Committee addresses the needs of our legwear members through regular meetings and advocacy initiatives. Regulations and trends in trade, product safety, labeling, and other areas affecting socks and hosiery are identified and acted upon through AAFA-facilitated member participation. The committee’s Legwear Testing Task Group also works to develop tools and resources to be utilized by AAFA members. To join, contact membership@aafaglobal.org. The next committee call will be held December 13.
AAFA at ITMF Annual Conference 2016: AAFA's Executive Vice President Steve Lamar discussed the future of trade policy after the U.S. Elections during the annual Confederation of Indian Textile Industries conference on November 19. A copy of his presentation is available here.
Last week in Vietnam: AAFA hosted two unique programs on trade and product safety in Ho Chi Minh City on November 14 and 15. Presentation materials regarding trade and product safety are available to AAFA members (login required). Additional coverage of the product safety event can be found in this story from the Vietnam News Service.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ACE Pilot Program concerns: On November 16, AAFA signed onto a joint letter — signed by more than 30 importers, exporters, customs brokers, transportation providers, and other supply chain stakeholders — urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to address serious concerns regarding the ongoing FWS pilot program for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The industry is concerned with three key issues outlined in the letter here.
See all of AAFA’s latest letters, comments, and testimony here.
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November and December Nov. 29 Environmental Committee Meeting
Nov. 30 Social Responsibility Committee Meeting
Nov. 30 Knock it Off! Brands & the Counterfeiting Quandary Workshop
Dec. 1 Brand Protection Council Meeting
Dec. 6 Government Relations Committee Conference Call
Dec. 7 Webinar: CSR with WRAP - A New Approach to Working Hours
Dec. 13 Legwear Committee Conference Call
Dec. 15 Webinar: Counterfeits on the Rise - Challenges and Best Practices |
Join AAFA in Long Beach on Jan. 24 for the latest on compliance and restricted chemicals
Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars and industry events.
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Other Industry Events
November 30, 2016 | New York, NY
Two Ten Footwear Foundation, the national charitable foundation of the U.S. footwear industry, will host its 77th annual VIP Dinner and Gala on November 30, 2016. The evening of philanthropy and entertainment will be held at the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City’s Manhattan Center. Click here for more information.
January 25-26, 2017 | Orlando, FL
Each year, the PGA Merchandise Show gathers 40,000+ industry leaders representing 74 for its premier golf merchandise show. This year, complimentary education conference sessions will be held Jan. 25-26 and will cover numerous topics that will play a role in sourcing next year, including the recent U.S. presidential election, labor concerns, the activewear market, new sourcing strategies, and wearable technology. AAFA President and CEO Rick Helfenbein will present a special keynote, "Sourcing Merchandise in the New Political Environment." Learn more about the education sessions here. See recent coverage in Sourcing Journal for additional details.
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Trade
