Latest news with #AmericanApparelandFootwearAssociation
Fibre2Fashion
22-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
AAFA urges long-term AGOA renewal to boost US-Africa trade
Beth Hughes, vice president of trade and customs policy at the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), has delivered testimony before the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), highlighting the importance of renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for calendar year 2026. Speaking at the annual review hearing (Docket Number USTR-2025-0012), Hughes stated that AGOA plays a pivotal role in driving US private-sector investment and employment across Africa and the United States. She shared testimonials from AAFA member companies, underscoring the impact of AGOA on business expansion and job creation. Hughes said that one member company recently inaugurated a new garment factory in Togo, employing over 250 local workers trained over the past eight months. The company plans to expand the workforce to 500, with finished goods shipped to a US-based warehouse that employs more than 100 Americans. Beth Hughes of AAFA has urged the USTR to renew AGOA for 2026, citing its critical role in boosting US investment and job creation in Africa and the US. She shared member success stories in Togo, Madagascar, Ghana, and Tanzania, and proposed enhancements like triennial reviews and improved customs systems. Hughes called AGOA a 'success story' and pushed for long-term renewal. She further noted that another US apparel company is preparing to construct a facility in Madagascar to relocate nearly 50 per cent of its production from China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. However, Hughes warned that this investment is entirely dependent on AGOA's renewal, as losing duty-free access would render the project unviable. In Ghana, a US company taking advantage of AGOA has become the country's largest private employer, with over 6,000 workers and plans to double that number by year-end. Much of the company's production has shifted from Asia to Ghana due to the cost competitiveness enabled by AGOA. Hughes also mentioned a long-standing AAFA member, founded in 1987, that has fully transitioned production from China to Madagascar and Tanzania since 2007. The company now employs over 10,000 workers—mostly women—and supplies 50 million garments annually to over 60,000 US small businesses, supporting around 3 million American jobs. She emphasised that AGOA's third-country fabric rule is vital, as it allows apparel manufacturers in lesser developed AGOA countries to source inputs from outside the continent while textile infrastructure in Africa is still being developed. At present, African suppliers provide only about 10 per cent of the cotton yarn and fabric used by local apparel manufacturers. To enhance AGOA's effectiveness and utilisation, Hughes said AAFA supports several targeted improvements. These include converting the annual eligibility review to a triennial cycle, allowing cumulation from African Union countries that have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and replacing outdated textile visa requirements with modern customs cooperation. She also recommended adjusting apparel quotas and revising the graduation criteria for AGOA beneficiaries. Calling AGOA a 'success story,' Hughes urged Congress and the Administration to renew the programme before the September 30 deadline and for the longest possible duration to provide certainty and encourage long-term investment. 'The time to act is now,' she said. 'AGOA has helped build a strong foundation for economic partnership, industrial growth, and mutual prosperity between the US and Africa. Let's not allow that progress to stall.' Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Vietnam talks to Gap, Levi Strauss in battle to head off Trump tariffs
HighlightsVietnam is actively seeking support from major American garment companies, including Gap Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co., to mitigate the impact of President Donald Trump's proposed 46 percent trade tariff. Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dien, emphasized the country's commitment to being a reliable partner in the global supply chain during meetings with leaders from the American Apparel and Footwear Association and major brands. The United States was Vietnam's top export market, with exports reaching $57 billion in the first five months of 2025, a significant increase from $44 billion during the same period the previous year. Vietnam has sought to enlist major US garment companies including Gap and Levi Strauss as it tries to head off President Donald Trump's threatened 46 percent trade tariff. The country, a major producer of clothing and footwear for international brands, has the third-biggest trade surplus with the United States after China and Mexico, making it a target for Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff blitz in April. Officials have been locked in talks with their US counterparts to avoid being hit, seeking support from American tech giants and signing agriculture deals with Washington to ease the problem. On a visit to the United States, Vietnam's minister of industry and trade Nguyen Hong Dien on Monday met leaders from the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and leading brands Gap, Levi Strauss, and Under Armour. The United States was Vietnam's number one export market with $57 billion in the first five months of 2025 -- up from $44 billion over the same period a year ago. Textiles and footwear were among the leading products sent to American clients. A trade ministry statement posted online late Tuesday said Dien wanted to cement Vietnam's willingness "to be a reliable partner in the global supply chain". "Cooperation with Vietnam will bring long-term strategic benefits and contribute to improving the trade balance in a fair, harmonious and sustainable direction between the two countries," he was quoted as saying. Dien also met Jeffrey Perlman, the head of Warburg Pincus Investment Fund, the statement said. When announcing his raft of levies in April, Trump claimed Vietnam charged the United States a 90 percent tariff, which was based on Hanoi's trade surplus of $123.5 billion last year. His administration also appeared particularly angry about what it sees as the Asian nation's role in attempts to get around tariffs imposed on China. But given Vietnam's vital role in global supply chains, many parties -- including US companies in the country -- have urged the White House to walk back the tariffs. Vietnamese and US trade negotiators held their latest round of talks in Paris last week, and are scheduled to meet again in the next few days. Hanoi last week signed several agreements worth up to $3 billion of agricultural products and other raw materials from the United States as it sought to rebalance their trading partnership. Trump's real estate group also broke ground last month on a $1.5 billion luxury golf resort in Vietnam, while his son Eric has been scouting locations for a potential tower project in Ho Chi Minh City, the country's southern business hub.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam talks to Gap, Levi Strauss in battle to head off Trump tariffs
On a visit to the United States on June 9, Vietnam's minister of industry and trade Nguyen Hong Dien met leaders from the American Apparel and Footwear Association and leading brands Gap, Levi Strauss, and Under Armour. - Reuters HANOI: Vietnam has sought to enlist major US garment companies including Gap and Levi Strauss as it tries to head off President Donald Trump's threatened 46 per cent trade tariff. The country, a major producer of clothing and footwear for international brands, has the third-biggest trade surplus with the United States after China and Mexico, making it a target for Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff blitz in April. Officials have been locked in talks with their US counterparts to avoid being hit, seeking support from American tech giants and signing agriculture deals with Washington to ease the problem. On a visit to the United States, Vietnam's minister of industry and trade Nguyen Hong Dien on Monday (June 9) met leaders from the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and leading brands Gap, Levi Strauss, and Under Armour. The United States was Vietnam's number one export market with US$57 billion in the first five months of 2025 -- up from $44 billion over the same period a year ago. Textiles and footwear were among the leading products sent to American clients. A trade ministry statement posted online late Tuesday said Dien wanted to cement Vietnam's willingness "to be a reliable partner in the global supply chain". "Cooperation with Vietnam will bring long-term strategic benefits and contribute to improving the trade balance in a fair, harmonious and sustainable direction between the two countries," he was quoted as saying. Dien also met Jeffrey Perlman, the head of Warburg Pincus Investment Fund, the statement said. When announcing his raft of levies in April, Trump claimed Vietnam charged the United States a 90 per cent tariff, which was based on Hanoi's trade surplus of $123.5 billion last year. His administration also appeared particularly angry about what it sees as the Asian nation's role in attempts to get around tariffs imposed on China. But given Vietnam's vital role in global supply chains, many parties -- including US companies in the country -- have urged the White House to walk back the tariffs. Vietnamese and US trade negotiators held their latest round of talks in Paris last week, and are scheduled to meet again in the next few days. Hanoi last week signed several agreements worth up to $3 billion of agricultural products and other raw materials from the United States as it sought to rebalance their trading partnership. Trump's real estate group also broke ground last month on a $1.5 billion luxury golf resort in Vietnam, while his son Eric has been scouting locations for a potential tower project in Ho Chi Minh City, the country's southern business hub. - AFP
Fashion United
11-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Facing tariffs, Vietnam requests support from American clothing brands
Hanoi - Hanoi invited American textile companies to support Vietnam with the Trump administration in its efforts to avoid a 46 percent tariff that would damage trade between the two countries. Vietnam, which mass-produces clothing and footwear for international brands, worked tirelessly to meet the demands of its main client, the US. Industry and Trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien met with the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) in the US on Monday, April 7. The AAFA represents over one thousand brands, distributors and manufacturers. The ministry made the announcement on Tuesday evening. Dien, responsible for conducting the negotiations on behalf of his government, also spoke with 'major American groups', including Gap, Levi Strauss and Under Armour, according to the ministry's statement. 'The minister reaffirmed Vietnam's availability to be a reliable partner in the global supply chain and expressed the desire to strengthen cooperation for fair and sustainable trade,' according to the statement. President Donald Trump's obsession with restoring the American trade balance caused concern for Vietnamese authorities, who rely heavily on exports to continue the country's economic development after decades of war. Trump threatened to impose a 46 percent tariff on goods purchased from Vietnam, including textiles, if an agreement that would balance trade was not reached in the coming weeks. In 2024, the US purchased around 136 billion dollars worth of goods from Vietnam and sold 13 billion dollars worth of goods. The 123-billion-dollar deficit, up 18 percent year-over-year (YoY) from 2023, was the third highest total for Washington, after China and Mexico. This week, American companies based in Vietnam urged the White House to reduce the tariffs it planned to impose. Hanoi also made several gestures towards American companies and the Trump family, who recently launched the construction of a 1.5-billion-dollar luxury hotel complex near Hanoi in partnership with a local developer. Vietnam also committed to purchasing over two billion dollars worth of American agricultural products. This article was translated to English using an AI tool. FashionUnited uses AI language tools to speed up translating (news) articles and proofread the translations to improve the end result. This saves our human journalists time they can spend doing research and writing original articles. Articles translated with the help of AI are checked and edited by a human desk editor prior to going online. If you have questions or comments about this process email us at info@
Business of Fashion
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business of Fashion
Under Pressure: Can Fashion's Sustainability Efforts Survive?
Every year, fashion's climate campaigners descend on Copenhagen for the Global Fashion Summit, the industry's highest-profile sustainability gathering. The event, which is typically dominated by large brands offering up a relentlessly optimistic prognosis on the industry's climate efforts, was unusually downbeat this year. Many of fashion's biggest companies were noticeably absent — a function of squeezed travel budgets and fear (few executives appeared willing to weigh in on an increasingly politically charged topic where there is little positive to say). To be sure, advocates for a greener, kinder fashion industry have quietly acknowledged that the movement was struggling for a while. But they held out hope that moves to toughen up regulation would keep forcing things forward. This year, that has all but evaporated. A rightward swing in Europe has prompted a regulatory rollback in the name of competitiveness. Brussels is pushing to cut red tape and simplify pioneering environmental reporting and due diligence requirements in a move critics argue undermines the legislation. 'Europe has failed,' Danish brand Bestseller's stakeholder engagement and human rights manager, Claus Teilmann Petersen, said during a panel discussion teeing up the summit. 'I see this battle as being… kind of lost.' Then there is the active threat posed by the Trump administration, which has pulled the US out of the Paris Climate agreement, slashed funding from programmes focused on labour rights and climate action and launched a chaotic trade war that has plunged much of the industry into survival mode. Instead of looking for progress, many in the space are just trying to figure out what can be saved. 'There's this sort of paralysis that's happening right now,' the American Apparel and Footwear Association's senior director for sustainability Chelsea Murtha told the summit. 'Everyone's trying to figure out what can we continue to hold onto.' What Next? On the sidelines, many insiders acknowledged the movement is running on fumes. Already some companies are making small sustainability sacrifices in the name of economising, opting to switch out pricier lower impact materials for cheaper, more conventional ones, I was told. Attendees said expected companies to largely stay the course with programmes already in place, but acknowledged the uncertainty was likely to slow future action. It's not clear where new momentum could come from. Until there's more clarity on tariffs, the industry is holding a collective breath. The EU is still pushing forward with regulations that would set more sustainable design and recycling requirements, but these have yet to be fully defined. Alongside the usual calls for more collective action and innovation, there was a greater focus on the importance of advocacy in favour of policies that could lend fresh support to fashion's climate efforts. 'We need to have courage,' said slow fashion pioneer Eileen Fisher. 'We have to do more and show up and collaborate more.' The real remaining wild card is climate change itself. This year is once again on track to be one of the warmest on record. Increasingly extreme weather is a threat to raw material supply chains, worker safety and retail traffic. So far, disruptions from floods, wildfires and searing heat have not led to significant disruptions for the industry. Still, with future costs of climate change expected to mount into the trillions of dollars in the future, fashion may come to regret complacency today. THE NEWS IN BRIEF FASHION, BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY (Getty Images) Gucci owner Kering is in talks to sell its stake in a $1 billion Fifth Avenue property. The negotiations to sell the 115,00-square-foot property which Kering purchased last year to buyout group Ardian are part of the French luxury group's strategy to cut costs and sell stakes in prime real estate to shrink its debt, Reuters reported. Lululemon cut its annual profit forecast as demand slows amid looming tariffs. Despite new product offerings, the activewear company's sales momentum is lagging behind that of competitors like Alo Yoga and Vuori. Stock plummeted 12 percent in after-market trading on Thursday. Prada acquired a 10 percent stake in Italian leather group Rino Mastrotto. Under the deal, which comes as the Italian luxury group aims to shore up control over its production processes, Prada will give the Renaissance Partners-backed leather group a cash investment of undisclosed value and two tanneries. Cartier reported some customer data was stolen in a cyberattack. The Richemont-owned jeweller's client information, including email addresses, countries and names, was obtained by cybercriminals after its website was hacked. The incident is the latest in a wave of cyberattacks on retailers. Rent the Runway forecast double-digit subscriber growth in 2025. Shares rose 12 percent Thursday afternoon after the rental service announced it had ended its most recent quarter with a record number of active subscribers. Year-on-year revenue fell 7.2 percent to $70 million. De Beers drew interest from ex-CEOs as Anglo started its sale. Anglo American Plc plans to begin a formal sales process for De Beers, the final step in its restructuring plan. Former De Beers CEOs Gareth Penny and Bruce Cleaver, and Australian miner Michael O'Keeffe are reportedly each leading groups of potential buyers. A Skechers shareholder sued the company over details on the $9.4 billion 3G buyout. The shareholder alleged founder and controlling shareholder Robert Greenberg to have 'controlled the sales process to a single bidder and deprived the minority stockholders of any legitimate bidding process,' according to the legal complaint. Shein was hit with a complaint from an EU consumer group over 'dark patterns.' Pan-European consumer organisation BEUC filed a complaint with the European Commission on Thursday, citing 'aggressive commercial practices' like pop-ups, notifications and countdown timers that pressure people to make a purchase on Shein's app and website. Victoria's Secret said a cyber incident led to its temporary website shutdown. The intimates chain said it detected an information technology systems-related security incident, which caused it to shut down its website between May 26 and May 29. The incident did not impact its first-quarter financial results. Temu's daily US users have halved following the end of the 'de minimis' loophole. The site's daily US users plummeted 58 percent in May. Both Temu and Shein have suffered a severe drop in sales and customer growth rates since US President Trump announced sweeping trade tariffs and the end of low-value duty-free shipments from China. Sotheby's will auction an original Hermès bag that belonged to Jane Birkin. The black leather handbag, which was initially commissioned in 1984 for the late singer before being commercialised under her name, will be made available for sale in Paris on July 10. THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY (Huda Beauty) Huda Kattan bought back Huda Beauty. Iraqi-American beauty influencer Kattan regained full ownership of her eponymous brand after buying back a minority stake that private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners had held since 2017. L'Oréal is reportedly poised to acquire Medik8. The Financial Times reported that the British skincare brand's current owner, private equity group Inflexion, and L'Oréal are close to finalising an agreement. Procter & Gamble will cut 7,000 jobs over two years. The manufacturing company announced it would cut about 6 percent of its global workforce, with plans to exit some categories and brands in individual markets. PEOPLE () Nike's CEO finished his C-suite makeover with a former McDonald's executive. McDonald's senior VP Michael Gonda will join the world's largest sportswear brand as chief communications officer in July, the latest leadership reshuffling under the turnaround strategy of CEO Elliott Hill, who rejoined Nike from retirement in October. Better Cotton appointed Nick Weatherill CEO. Weatherill, a former International Cocoa Initiative executive director, will succeed longtime CEO Alan McClay. The 20-year-old sustainable cotton initiative now certifies a fifth of the world's cotton production, but is amping up its oversight following criticism that its standards are too lenient. Kiko Milano named Drew Elliott its chief brand officer. Elliot, the former MAC Cosmetics global creative director, will assume the chief brand officer role on Sept. 1. The appointment comes as the Italian cosmetics company looks to expand its presence in the US market. Violet Grey named a former Bluemercury executive as group president. Tracy Kline will join the beauty retailer as group president on June 9, overseeing the company's team, supply chain, stores, merchandising and marketing. Longtime beauty editor Jane Larkworthy died at 62. Larkworthy, who served as the beauty director of W magazine and more recently as a columnist for New York Magazine's The Cut, is credited as the editor responsible for popularising Le Labo's Santal 33. She died on Wednesday after a battle with cancer. Compiled by Jessica Kwon.
