Newsletter at-a-glance
This is the last week to participate in the AAFA CSR Benchmarking Survey (see AAFA News). Also, don't miss the conversation AAFA President and CEO Rick Helfenbein had with StyleSage about trade policy, retail, and more.
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February 5: China has opened an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into sorghum imports from the United States, the latest salvo in an escalating trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies. ( Source: New York Times)
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February 2: ... His comments come days after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to get tough on trade, though he didn’t single out Nafta, in his State of the Union address. ( Source: Bloomberg)
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February 2: ... Without the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which underpins our trading relationship with our two neighbors, Super Bowl Sunday would never be the same. ( Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
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February 2: ... The ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh appears to be stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to remaining competitive with wages, but also ensuring workers are at the very least, content. ( Source: Sourcing Journal - article unlocked)
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February 2: The Navy will begin issuing a new version of fire-retardant coveralls in the next couple of months, replacing the uniform currently worn by nearly all sailors at sea. ( Source: Military Times)
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January 31: Six apparel sector brands have joined a new real-time supply chain transparency tool launched this month by the Natural Resources Defense Council in the United States and the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) in China. ( Source: Environmental Leader)
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February 6: ... The USPTO has been awaiting a new director for nearly a year since Michelle Lee departed ... ( Source: Intellectual Property Watch)
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February 5: Social media companies such as Twitter would be required to identify automated accounts, known as bots, under a new bill scheduled to be introduced in the California Legislature this week. ( Source: Capital Public Radio)
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February 1: ... Special agents from [Homeland Security Investigations] HSI teamed with industry, CBP, FBI, Minneapolis police officers and other partner agencies to identify flea markets, retail outlets and street vendors selling counterfeit goods during the week leading up to Super Bowl LII. They seized fake jerseys, hats, cell-phone accessories and thousands of other bogus items prepared to be sold to unsuspecting consumers. (Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
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Q&A with AAFA's President and CEO: AAFA President and CEO Rick Helfenbein spoke with StyleSage last week to discuss top-of-mind issues for the industry, from trade agreements to the state of retail.
We need you - to take the annual CSR Benchmarking Survey! For four years, AAFA has conducted the AAFA CSR Benchmarking Survey to provide the industry with insight on how apparel and footwear companies approach corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues from an operations perspective.
Complete the survey here by Friday, February 9. All feedback is confidential, and the results are shared only with respondents and AAFA members. Access the survey reports for 2015-2017 here.
This year's survey should take 20-30 minutes to complete and must be done in a single session (questions can be accessed here so that you can collaborate with appropriate colleagues in advance). Please limit submitted responses to one per company. CPSC and children's products: On February 2, AAFA joined 73 other trade associations supporting the confirmation of Ann Marie Buerkle and Dana Baiocco for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Concurrently, AAFA sent a letter to the Vermont Department of Health supporting a two-year retroactive reporting schedule for Chemicals of High Concern in Children's Products, allowing companies to report every other year.
AAFA pushes for policy on demurrage: AAFA expressed support for a petition urging the Federal Maritime Commission to establish a policy on unreasonable detention/demurrage charges in a post-hearing brief on February 1.
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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February
Feb. 7 Social Responsibility Committee Meeting
Feb. 7 Environmental Committee Meeting
Feb. 21 Webinar: Millennials, Parents, and Textile Sustainability
Feb. 28 Board of Directors Meeting and Capitol Hill Visit
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Other Industry Events
FN Platform and SOURCING at MAGIC
February 12-14 | Las Vegas, NV
AAFA will lead two sessions on February 12 in Las Vegas - "Creating an Intellectual Property Rights Culture" and "Global Value Chains and How They Can Shape U.S. Trade Policy."
2nd Annual WIFI Impact Awards
February 13 | Las Vegas, NV
The Two Ten Footwear Foundation will honor six outstanding women leaders during the annual FN Platform trade show.
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Trade
