Newsletter at-a-glance

AAFA has released a new member tool - Proposition 65 Warning Label Guidance. Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce has recommended tariffs on steel and aluminum from certain nations, and the House of Representatives has approved legislation that would renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Learn about these updates and more under Trade and AAFA News.

February 19: ... The Commerce Department on Friday sent President Trump several recommendations, including across-the-board tariffs and stiffer targeted penalties on certain nations that sell steel and aluminum in the United States. Trump has until April to decide. (Source: CNN Money)

February 15: The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4979 Tuesday under an expedited floor procedure, which would renew the Generalized System of Preferences program through 2020. (Source: American Shipper)

February 15: ... "It is a major priority of ours to renegotiate the deal," he added, declining to comment on consequences if the United States pulls out of talks. (Source: Reuters)

February 16: At the Mohammadi Fashion Sweaters Ltd. factory in Bangladesh’s capital, a few dozen workers stand watching as 173 German-made machines knit black sweaters for overseas buyers. Occasionally the workers step in to program designs or clean the machines, but otherwise there is little for humans to do. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

February 13: The company tried to skirt import tariffs in shipments of goods to the U.S., including customers in Maine. (Source: Portland Press Herald)

February 19: ... Most groups are private, and some are secret. Many have shockingly strict rules. (Source: Racked)

February 8: There’s something funny about the new Diesel pop-up on Canal Street, which opened secretly this week. Not only is it far from the brand’s Madison Avenue flagship, but unsuspecting passerbys most likely won’t notice that its signage features a typo: it says Deisel, not Diesel. But that’s on purpose. (Source: The Cut)

AAFA praises passage of GSP renewal in the House: AAFA praised the U.S. House of Representatives for approving H.R. 4979, which would extend the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program until December 31, 2020 and cover tariffs paid since the program expired at the end of 2017. Read the February 13 press release for AAFA's full statement and key vote letter.

Next week in Washington: Next week, AAFA will host the 2018 AAFA Executive Summit alongside the annual Spring Board of Directors Meeting and Capitol Hill visit. The Summit will convene nearly 200 executives for two incredible days and we look forward to welcoming keynote speakers Carl Bernstein (Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist, Author, and Political Analyst) and Angela Ahrendts (Sr. Vice President of Retail at Apple)! Sessions will also feature Avametric, Axios, Clarifai, Harvard Business School, Intel, JD.com, MarkMonitor, Microsoft Corporation, Nimbly, RSM US LLP, Stitch Fix, Turnberry, and Ziel Inc. PBC. The full agenda and registration details are available at aafgalobal.org/Summit18. 

New AAFA member tool! Proposition 65 Warning Label Guidance: At our Product Safety Seminar earlier this month, AAFA unveiled a new member resource – AAFA Proposition 65 Warning Label Guidance. This tool provides AAFA members with details on the update to California's Proposition 65 (Prop 65), which becomes effective August 30, 2018. The tool breaks down the Prop 65 regulation text into actionable items to help companies develop their compliance strategy with regard to Prop 65 warning labels. 

Annual Market Monitor posted: With data by NPD Group, the 2017 Apparel and Footwear Market Monitor is now posted to provide AAFA members with insights around sales of apparel and footwear products in the U.S. market. The annual report shares data about movements in the market that may impact your business and how you stack up against the competition. Members can download the final 2017 edition from the Tools & Research section of AAFA's website.  

February & March Feb. 21 Webinar: Millennials, Parents, and Textile Sustainability  Feb. 28 Board of Directors Meeting and Capitol Hill Visit  Feb. 28 - March 2 AAFA Executive Summit March 7 Webinar: When Technology Meets Fashion Sustainability March 15 Member-Only Webinar: Pivotal 2018 Mid-Term Elections & What's at Stake   Visit our events calendar for all AAFA webinars and industry events.

Join us April 16 at 583 Park Ave. in NYC!