June 1: ... Despite Mr. Trump’s incendiary talk, his top trade advisers are taking a more cautious approach to dealing with America’s trading partners, striking a more moderate tone than the president but still laying the groundwork for the changes he has promised. ... Signs of greater moderation were on display this week when Wilbur Ross, the secretary of commerce, suggested that the administration would actually try to build off some aspects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, or T.P.P., that Mr. Trump abandoned in January as NAFTA renegotiations begin this summer. ... "The first guiding principle is do no harm," Mr. Ross said at a Bipartisan Policy Center forum on Wednesday. (Source: New York Times)

May 31: Beneath the "Buy American" roadside signs here, a globalist heart beats in this mostly rural corner of Northwest Georgia. ... While most of the flooring made here is sold domestically, for housing and commercial space, carpet can also end up installed in vehicles, ships and aircraft bound for export. The Dalton area also directly exports more carpeting than anywhere else in the United States, primarily to Canada and Mexico. There’s no doubt that global trade helps grease the wheels of the economy here. And therein lies the irony. (Source: Center for Public Integrity)

June 5: ... Retail is evolving yet again, and we are witnessing an adjustment from a period defined by real estate overbuilding, to a new era of "shared space" (with online) that combines the changing attitudes and habits of shoppers. Customer experience is simply happening at a much faster pace than physical real estate can accommodate. (Source: Sourcing Journal, op-ed from AAFA's Rick Helfenbein - article unlocked)

June 4: President Donald Trump will launch a new campaign this week aimed at fulfilling his pledge for $1 trillion of infrastructure investment, hoping to capitalize on lawmakers’ support for rebuilding the nation’s transportation systems at a time when his tax and health legislation are in flux. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

May 30: ... The industry used to think about a shopper as the ending. Today, a shopper is the beginning. The feedback loop that often took nine months to get a shopper's opinion on a design collapsed to weeks, if not days or minutes. It's as close to real time as it's ever been. Thriving in this world required two related changes: 1) brands have to move more quickly; and 2) be more decentralized than ever before. (Source: Loose Threads)

June 5: Logo-laden luxury goods are hardly the only types of apparel and accessories targeted by counterfeiters. In addition to fake Louis Vuitton bags and Gucci tees, another frequently copied category of items: Sports merchandise, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s ("CBP") Apparel, Footwear and Textiles Center of Excellence and Expertise has recently announced a significant number of interceptions of infringing products in light of the National Basketball Association’s finals. (Source: The Fashion Law)

June 1: Every day, black-market shoppers tap into an invisible network to illegally funnel luxury designer goods into the United States right under the noses of customs and border protection agents. All of the wares — Chloé ankle boots, Saint Laurent wallets, Chanel Le Boy bags — are undeniably, shamelessly fake. Does that stop the buyers? Not a chance. (Source: Racked)

June 1: ... On May 5th, authorities raided a facility in the city of Dongguan in Southern China that was churning out 600,000 cartons of fake beer every month. But it wasn’t until video footage of the processing line in action was leaked that people began to take notice. (Source: Industrial Equipment News)

In Brief

AAFA on BAT & NAFTA: Following the House Ways and Means Committee’s May 23rd public hearing regarding the pros and cons of a Border Adjustment Tax (BAT), AAFA is continuing to follow developments closely and we are continuing to urge members to communicate their opposition to this flawed proposal. Please see this 1-pager to help communicate your concerns. You can also join more than 14,000 colleagues and send a letter to your legislator. Last month, the Administration also gave notice to Congress of its intention to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). AAFA is currently soliciting input from members so we can share perspectives on behalf of the industry with the Administration as these talks kick off in August. For more information, contact Steve Lamar.

Member Welcome: Tailored Brands

Tailored Brands, Inc. is a leading authority on helping men dress for work, special occasions and everyday life. The company's brands include leading menswear retailers Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, and Moores Clothing for Men; designer brand Joseph Abboud, family retailer K&G Fashion Superstore; drycleaners MW Cleaners; and corporate apparel leaders Twin Hill, Dimensions, Alexandra, and Yaffy. 

June June 7-8 Supply Chain Innovation: The Right Course - An AAFA Sourcing Conference June 15 Webinar: Harnessing the Simplified Duty Drawback Rules for Expanded Savings Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars and industry events.

AAFA Traceability Seminar July 19 | Chicago