Newsletter at-a-glance
AAFA's annual ApparelStats and ShoeStats reports are now available! Access these reports, and find a summary of AAFA's continued efforts against tariffs, under AAFA News.
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September 10: ... The U.S. and Canada met for most of last week without reaching a resolution. They are aiming to complete a deal by the end of the month so the three nations — Mexico, Canada and the United States — can sign an agreement by the end of November. ( Source: The Hill)
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September 7: ... Earlier on Friday White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Trump will not make any decisions on his threatened tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese goods before officials evaluate public comments on them. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office received nearly 6,000 comments during the public comment period on the proposed levies, which ended Thursday night. ( Source: Reuters)
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September 5: ... The growing consumer movement to buy local and shop from startup brands also plays a key role in the strategic shift, as does the increased consumer bid to minimize the environmental impact of the long-haul international transfer of goods. ( Source: Forbes)
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September 7: All of the local chapters of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) voted to approve a new six-year master contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), as of 10 p.m. on Thursday [September 6], according to a press release. ( Source: Supply Chain Dive)
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September 6: ... Destroying unsold inventory is a widely used but rarely discussed technique that luxury companies perform to maintain the scarcity of their goods and the exclusivity of their brands. In Italy and many other countries, they can also claim a tax credit for destroying the inventory. ( Source: Wall Street Journal)
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August 22: The armed forces are moving toward a similar look on the battlefield. (Source: Bloomberg)
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September issue: ... Unfortunately, as consumers look for the best deals on clothing and shoes to kick off the back-to-school shopping season, they may unknowingly be drawn to purchase counterfeit goods. When looking for savings on apparel and footwear, be cautious of the following channels as sources for counterfeit goods. ( Source: Fashion Mannuscript, op-ed by AAFA's Christina Mitropoulos)
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September 6: ... As counterfeit sellers continue to increase the sophistication of their dealings and the offerings, themselves, in the digital domain, these faux physical outposts are simultaneously growing both in size and sophistication. (Source: The Fashion Law)
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September 4: ... In Amazon seller forums and dedicated Amazon Facebook groups, sellers have long critiqued the platform for unfairly suspending accounts, not communicating effectively, issues with counterfeit items and taking over an entire segment with its own private label brands. ( Source: Digiday)
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ApparelStats and ShoeStats 2018 now available! These premiere publications are the most comprehensive and authoritative sources for U.S. apparel and footwear industry statistics, with data through 2017. The reports, available for download by AAFA members, contain information on imports, retail sales, retail prices, consumption, employment, exports, and domestic production.
We are proud to share that collectively, the U.S. apparel and footwear industry employed nearly 4 million Americans in well-paying jobs in 2017 and contributed more than $400 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. Non-members may see a snapshot of the data with our 1-pager here.
Tariff comment period closes: The public comment period regarding the proposed list of $200 billion in U.S. imports from China ended Thursday night, September 6. As part of that process, AAFA led or contributed to the following submissions:
Approximately 6,000 comments were submitted during this period, and the administration has indicated that it will not make a decision on the $200 billion list until these comments have been reviewed. Meanwhile, the President indicated a willingness to add punitive tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of U.S. imports from China during an interview on Friday. AAFA will continue to keep members informed as developments unfold. In the meantime, contact AAFA's Steve Lamar or Nate Herman with any questions.
Presidential signature needed on Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB): On September 4, the House of Representatives passed the U.S. Senate’s version of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) Act of 2018. AAFA immediately congratulated the bill’s sponsors and encouraged President Trump to sign the bill into law. AAFA has long supported the MTB, which would temporarily eliminate or reduce import duties on products and inputs that are not made in the U.S.
Dredging comments: AAFA contributed to comments submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on September 4, regarding the need to update dredging regulations. The comments highlight the need to widen and deepen U.S. ports to accommodate larger classes of cargo ships.
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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Member Welcome: Yellow Brand Protection
 Yellow Brand Protection is a leading global provider of online anti-counterfeiting services. Leading because we believe we deploy technology that searches in more places than our competition. Leading because we believe we have the best local partnerships, in countries such as China. Leading because our highly committed team remove an average over 94% of all unauthorized product listings on behalf of our clients.
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September & October
September 12 Webinar: Microfiber Discharge –
What should you do?
October 15 Webinar: How to Build Your 3S eDemand-Chain
October 18 Vietnam: Product Safety & Compliance Conference
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Join us next Spring in D.C.
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Trade
