Newsletter at-a-glance
Along with industry news highlights across Supply Chain, Trade, and Brand Protection, this week we would like to call your attention to the Supreme Court's decision to review internet sales tax, and the release of USTR's Notorious Markets report (see AAFA News).
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January 12: Tax reforms may help the United States score more investments from both local and foreign companies, but those benefits could be offset by the Trump administration's protectionist trade policies, a major accounting firm said Friday. ( Source: CNBC)
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January 11: The U.S. President said he would be "flexible" until the Mexican presidential election, in July, is complete. ( Source: Toronto Star)
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January 16: Burma and Bangladesh agreed on Tuesday to complete the return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees within two years, despite international fears that they will be held in grim internment camps that may result in long term ghettos and a "powder keg" of radicalisation. ( Source: The Telegraph)
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January 12: The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide if states should be able to collect taxes on internet sales, which would generate billions in revenue for local governments, but also raise the cost of online shopping for consumers. ( Source: NBC News)
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January 8: Garment workers in Cambodia will see their wages increase 11% this year, but this will put further financial pressure on the country’s export sector. ( Source: The Loadstar)
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January 15: ... Taobao, Alibaba’s hugely popular marketplace, is among 25 e-commerce sites to feature in the latest USTR ‘Notorious Markets’ list. (Source: TechCrunch)
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January 15: Drug chain giant CVS Pharmacy announced today it will take new steps toward letting customers know when an image used on social media or in marketing and in-store materials has been digitally altered. The company is also making a commitment, starting in April, to not materially alter beauty imagery it creates for its stores, website and marketing materials for social media. (Source: ABC News)
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January 15: Intellectual property is generating soaring revenue for Japan, jumping by 74 percent over the past five years to a record in 2017, according to the latest government data. ( Source: Bloomberg)
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In Brief
AAFA praises release of Notorious Markets report: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2017 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets report on January 12. AAFA released a statement supporting the report, emphasizing the importance of this tool in the fight to protect intellectual property.
Comments on forced labor report: On January 12, AAFA submitted comments to the Department of Labor outlining perspectives for the preparation of the annual List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor report.
Condolences for the Leonard family: AAFA was sorry to learn of the passing of James (Jim) C. Leonard III on December 25 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. During the Administration of President George W. Bush, Jim was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Textiles and Apparel and Chairman of the Committee for Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), where he was intimately involved in a number of negotiations, including the negotiations of the U.S./Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Prior to his government service, Jim worked with AAFA member Burlington Industries. AAFA sends its condolences to the Leonard family during this time.
 Congrats to YMA Fashion Scholarship recipient Elizabeth Galanti! On January 10, AAFA was pleased to attend the 2018 YMA gala in NYC, supporting students pursuing careers in design, merchandising, retailing, and business, along with YMA’s mission to ensure the industry will continue to attract dedicated, capable, and creative individuals. We congratulate our summer 2017 intern Elizabeth Galanti (pictured right with AAFA’s SVP of Membership Maureen Storch) of North Carolina State University (earning her B.S. in Fashion and Textile Brand Management with a concentration in Brand Management and Marketing, minor in Journalism) for receiving a 2018 scholarship!
Know a great intern candidate? AAFA is offering fantastic, hands-on internship opportunities this spring and summer in our Government Relations and Communications & Marketing departments. Looking for incredibly organized, ambitious, creative thinkers! Apply here.
See all of AAFA’s latest letters, comments, and testimony here.
Congress and government agencies solicit comments on a range of issues that may affect your business – find a list of comment opportunities here.
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January & February
Feb. 1 Webinar: Decoding the New Tax Code
Feb. 7 Social Responsibility Committee Meeting
Feb. 7 Environmental Committee Meeting
Feb. 28 Board of Directors Meeting and Capitol Hill Visit
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Joined by emcee Katie Couric.
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Other Industry Events
PGA Show - Performance Textile Fair
January 24-26 | Orlando, FL
AAFA President and CEO Rick Helfenbein will keynote the PGA Show’s Performance Textile Fair on January 24th with his session Trade & Your Business: Is D.C. A "Swamp" or a Sand Trap?
FN Platform and SOURCING at MAGIC
February 12-14 | Las Vegas, NV
AAFA will lead two sessions on February 12 in Las Vegas - one covering anti-counterfeiting and one about how U.S. global value chains can shape U.S. trade policy.
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Trade
