February 13: ... The apparel and footwear industry dodged the worst of the first round of tariffs only to see products such as backpacks, handbags, gloves and coats caught in the latest salvo. Some retailers have begun the lengthy process of switching their orders from Chinese factories to suppliers in other Asian countries, said Rick Helfenbein, president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. (Source: Washington Post)

February 13: ... Yahoo Finance's Adam Shapiro, and Julie Hyman discuss with Rick Helfenbein - American Apparel & Footwear Association CEO and President. (Source: Yahoo Finance)

February 13: ... Washington announced last year that it would review India's eligibility for the GSP program, after complaints from US dairy farmers and medical device manufacturers that India's tariffs had hurt their exports. (Source: CNN)

February 19: Clothing brands and retailers should pay a penny on every garment they sell to fund a £35m annual recycling scheme. That's the view of [British] MPs, who say "fast fashion" is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, water pollution, air pollution and over-use of water. (Source: BBC)

February 15: ... But following the government’s move to increase wages just before the Dec. 30 election, workers say factories have refused to follow the new rules, while businesses have accused unions and workers of vandalizing factories. Police and employers have filed cases against more than 3,000 workers. (Source: Bloomberg)

February 14: Because a microbiome can serve as a unique identifier of a place, Phylagen is gathering data from global factories so brands can better understand where their products are made, and detect if the work is being outsourced to places that rely on slavery or child labor. (Source: Fast Company)

February 18: The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear whether a trustee’s rejection of a trademark license agreement remains enforceable against the estate in Mission Product Holdings v Tempnology. Tempnology, a developer of cooling fabrics for athletic apparel and accessories, had granted a license to Mission Product Holdings to sell Tempnology’s patented products and to use its trademark. After Tempnology filed for bankruptcy, it rejected the license. (Source: IP Pro Magazine)

February 13: ... The Anti-Counterfeiting Blockathon Forum will be built on blockchain technology and will bring together people and organisations to shape and deliver the future anti-counterfeiting infrastructure. ... The Forum will connect private organisations, enforcement authorities and citizens to support the identification of authentic and counterfeit goods throughout the distribution chain. (Source: Lime Green IP News)

February 12: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Juan Field Operations announced Tuesday the seizure of counterfeit products imported into Puerto Rico via international mail or courier before and after the holidays. ... Among the merchandise CBP officers seized are watches, jewelry, bags, clothing and sunglasses that were illegally using known brands such as Rolex, Hublot, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Pandora, Tous and Nike. (Source: Carribean Business)

Register today for the AAFA Executive Summit! Demand + Deliver will explore what’s evolving, who’s innovating, the impact of politics and policy, and how these dynamics will affect your business. Check out the agenda and register today!

Need a room for the Summit? The deadline to book a room in the AAFA block of MGM National Harbor is this Friday, February 22.

AAFA on potential trade agreement with UK: On February 12, submitted comments to the U.S. International Trade Commission regarding a future trade agreement with the United Kingdom. AAFA also requested to testify on behalf of the industry on March 6.

Know a great intern candidate? AAFA is offering fantastic, hands-on internship opportunities this summer in our Government Relations and Communications & Marketing departments. We are looking for incredibly organized, ambitious, and creative thinkers! Apply here.

See all of AAFA’s latest letters, comments, and testimony here.