12.31.08
AAFA organized a letter from the entire textile, footwear and apparel supply chain urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to clarify several points related to the CPSC’s proposed lead testing exemptions under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) before issuing a final rule.

12.30.08
AAFA submitted comments urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to clarify several points related to the CPSC’s proposed lead testing exemptions under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) before issuing a final rule.

12.22.08
An AAFA-supported multi-industry group sent a petition to the CPSC regarding the lead standard in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

12.20.08
AAFA and others submitted a paper to the transition team of President-elect Barack Obama urging Obama to include the Affordable Footwear Act (HR 3934/S. 2370) in next year’s economic stimulus package.

12.19.08
AAFA joined a US business community letter urging Congress to continue funding for the ongoing Cross Border Mexican Trucking Demonstration Project.

12.19.08
An AAFA-supported multi-industry coalition sent a letter to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) urging USTR to hold a hearing on the development of a so-called "retaliation list" in the ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) beef hormone case.

12.8.08
AAFA submitted comments to the US government opposing the inclusion of US imports of European rayon staple fiber (HTS 5404.10) in the United States' proposed retaliation list for the European Union's (EU) non-compliance in the World Trade Organization (WTO) beef hormone case.

12.8.08
In both individual comments and in joint industry comments submitted by an AAFA-led ad-hoc apparel, footwear and travel goods supply chain coalition to the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), AAFA argued that footwear and apparel should be removed form the import declaration requirements under the Lacey Act. In another set of joint industry comments, AAFA also noted that enforcement of the Lacey Act should be restricted.

11.24.08
AAFA, as part of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) representing every major industry in America, wrote to members of the House and Senate to oppose the so-called Employee Free Choice Act.

11.5.08
AAFA submitted comments to the US government outlining a range of barriers preventing US apparel and footwear brands from entering some of the fastest growing markets around the world.

11.5.08
AAFA joined over 1000 other companies and associations in sending a letter to President-elect Barack Obama urging him to immediately work towards passage of the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.

11.5.08
AAFA submits comments on the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement's Act (CPSIA) lead and lead in paint regulations.
 

10.29.08
Comments Submitted to CPSC in Connection with Section 102 (relating to the conformity assessment certificate) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

10.24.08
Coalition Letter to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reaffirming support for decision by CBP to withdraw its notice of proposed interpretation on the First Sale rule.

10.23.08
AAFA sent a letter to the Office of Management (OMB) urging OMB to reject a final rule by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that would require U.S. importers to submit 10 additional data requirements to CBP at least 24 hours before lading at the foreign port (the so-called “10+2” rule).

10.23.08
AAFA submitted comments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) urging CBP to make major revisions to a proposed rule completely revamping the way origin is determined for tariff classification, country of origin and tariff preference purposes. If these revisions cannot be made, AAFA urges CBP to formally withdraw the proposed rule.
 

10.14.08
AAFA joined 47 other business and non-governmental (NGO) organizations in sending a letter to the agencies implementing recent modifications to the Lacey Act supporting the October 10 letter from members of Congress sent to those same agencies.

10.10.08
AAFA sent letters to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urging the CPSC to immediately issue a formal opinion stating that children’s footwear and apparel are not subject to the phthalate ban under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The CPSC's general counsel since issued a letter confirming that footwear is exempt from the phthalate ban. AAFA has also received a letter clarifying the application of the ban to apparel products.

10.10.08
Letter and questionnaire submitted to Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

10.1.08
AAFA sent a letter to all members of Congress urging immediate approval of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, which would help to stabilze the financial and credit markets. Together with a broad coalition of business groups, AAFA also sent a joint letter urging approval of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act this week. 

09.25.08
AAFA joined with other industry associations in sending letters to Congress and the Bush Administration urging them to approve the Affordable Footwear Act (H.R. 3934/S. 2372) before Congress adjourned for the year.

09.24.08 
Letter from AAFA and other associations urging Congress to renew the Andean Trade Preferences Act.
 

09.24.08
AAFA joined 93 other companies and associations across every major sector of the U.S. economy in sending a letter to Congressional leadership opposing any effort to reinstate the Byrd Amendment.

09.16.08
AAFA joined with over 25 other industry associations in sending a letter to and meeting with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ask them to reject US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s so-called “10+2” proposal.

09.10.08
The AAFA-supported U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition sent a letter urging Congress to approve the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUSFTA) before Congress adjourns for the year.

09.09.08
AAFA joined more than 1,100 U.S. companies, business and agricultural organizations and chambers of commerce in sending a letter urging Congress to approve the U.S./Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) this year.

08.19.08
AAFA, National Retail Federation (NRF), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) sent letters to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging them to get involved with the issue of forced child labor in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan.

08.15.08
AAFA, National Retail Federation (NRF), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) sent letters urging foreign trade associations to get involved with the issue of forced child labor in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan, sending letters to the British Retail Consortium, the Canadian Apparel Federation, the Retail Council of Canada, EuroCommerce, the Foreign Trade Association and the European Apparel and Textile Organisation (EURATEX).

08.15.08
AAFA, National Retail Federation (NRF), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) sent a letter to Uzbekistan President Islam Abduganievich Karimov urging the Uzbek government to take decisive and immediate action to end the use of forced child labor in its cotton fields.

8.12.08
AAFA sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asking him to veto legislation (SB 974) that will impose an unconstitutional tax on international cargo coming through the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland.

08.04.08
Statement to the International Trade Commission from AAFA Executive VP Steve Lamar describing the benefits of the Andean trade program to the U.S. textile and apparel industry and urging approval of the Colombia free trade agreement, implementation of the Peru free trade agreement, and extension of the Andean trade preference program.

07.29.08
AAFA's post hearing brief to the International Trade Commission supporting the renewal of the Andean Trade program.

07.25.08
AAFA sent letters to all 50 governors, in response to a report released by SweatFree Communities, urging the governors carefully review the report's allegations of widespread labor abuses at contractor factories supplying uniforms and boots for state and local government contracts because many of the allegations are false and/or unsubstantiated.

07.22.08
AAFA Executive Vice President Steve Lamar presented testimony before an International Trade Commission hearing investigating the impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act (investigation 332-352).

07.21.08
AAFA joined with the US business community in a letter to President Bush urging the US government to negotiate a robust Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with China to provide strong protections for US investment in China.

07.16.08
AAFA joined 40 associations representing the US business community in sending a letter to Congress urging them to instruct Customs to make their so-called “10+2” proposal a pilot program.

07.15.08
AAFA submitted comments to the office of the United States Trade Representative urging it to abandon the practice of “zeroing.”

07.15.08
AAFA, National Retail Federation (NRF), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) sent a letter to Congressional leaders in the trade and appropriations process protesting the recent inclusion of apparel import monitoring language in the House Appropriations Committee report accompanying the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill.

07.10.08
AAFA joined with over 100 companies and trade associations representing the entire textile, apparel and retail supply chain in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stressing the urgent need for immediate approval and implementation of the US/Colombia Trade Promotions Agreement (TPA).

07.03.08
AAFA submitted comments to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) regarding the Proposed Auditing Standard - Engagement Quality Review.

06.30.08
AAFA and 26 other major business and farm organizations sent a letter to the US Senate strongly opposing any effort to reinstate the so-called "Byrd Amendment."

06.18.08
AAFA joined with over 100 other organizations in sending a letter to World Trade Organization (WTO) ministers demanding an ambitious outcome to the ongoing Doha Round of global trade talks.

06.12.08
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Coalition submitted comments to Chairmen Dingell and Inouye of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee (respectively) on H.R. 4040 - The CPSC Modernization Act.  The comments address concerns the CPSC Coalition has with the language in both the House and Senate bills.

06.02.08
June 2, 2008 – The House Ways and Means Committee released a second request for comments on additions to the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). AAFA submitted comments on the Affordable Footwear Act, changes to the African Growth and Opportunity Act and a bill suspending tariffs on certain types of luggage.

05.14.08
AAFA sent a key vote letter to Congress urging them to vote YES on the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) because of its inclusion of Caribbean Basin Trade and Customs provisions.

05.02.08
Joint association letter in support of including Haiti Trade Provisions in Farm Package.

04.29.08
AAFA joined a dozen other major trade associations in sending a letter to Congress urging them to refrain from using trade restrictions as part of legislation before Congress to prevent climate change.

04.24.08
AAFA, along with 1,000 other companies and organization, sent a letter to Congress urging them to immediately approve the US/Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA).

04.23.08
Comments to Customs and Border Protection urging CBP to withdraw the First Sale revocation proposal. 

04.22.08
AAFA and other industry groups sent a letter of opposition to US Senate leadership regarding the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

04.21.08
Letter sent to President Pacheco of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly urging swift implementation of CAFTA-DR.
 

04.17.08
Coalition letter expressing support for the US/Korea Trade Agreement

04.10.08
Comments to the House Ways and Means Committee on various apparel and footwear related provisions included in the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill package. 

03.31.08
AAFA joined the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) and filed an amicus brief in the Perfect 10 vs. Visa lawsuit arguing that the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals’ decision set a “dangerous precedent in the law of secondary liability for copyright and trademark.”

03.18.08
Comments to Customs and Border Protection on the so-called “10+2” rule.

03.17.08
Letter sent to the Port of Oakland opposing any proposal to import container fees on incoming shipments through the port.

03.10.08
Coalition letter from AAFA and 68 other companies and trade associations urging Congress to permit full implementation of the Department of Transportation NAFTA Cross Border Trucking Pilot Program.

03.06.08
AAFA letter expressing opposition to Senator Pryor on the Consumer Product Safety Commission Modernization Act amendment, and instead proposing a study of Use of Formaldehyde in Textile and Apparel Articles.

03.06.08
Coalition Letter from textile and apparel associations to House and Senate appropriators in support of full funding for [TC]2 and NTC for FY 2009.

03.05.08
Coalition Letter from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Coalition urging Senate to reform certain provisions of the CPSC Modernization Act (S. 2663).

02.28.08
Letter from AAFA to the Senate supporting the extension of Andean Trade Program. 

02.26.08
Letter sent by coalition of associations and companies, including AAFA, opposing an effort by Customs to overturn the 9801 rule. 

02.14.08
AAFA written testimony for House Judiciary Committee hearing on Design Law: Are Special Provisions Needed to Protect Unique Industries?.

02.14.08
February 14 letter from the 700-plus members of AAFA-supported Latin American Trade Coalition urging Congress to approve the US/Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) as soon as possible.

02.11.08
AAFA-led letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff from almost 100 companies and organizations opposing Customs’ proposed revocation of the “first sale” rule.

02.11.08
AAFA comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on trading partners’ enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).

02.07.08
AAFA-supported company/association letter to Congress on pending anti-China legislation.

02.01.08
AAFA comments to US International Trade Commission for use in their investigation into how the Chinese government affects U.S. trade in apparel, textiles and other sectors.

02.01.08
AAFA/Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) joint letter to US Customs requesting a 60-day extension to submit comments on Customs’ proposed revocation of “9801.”
 

01.23.08
Coalition Letter Opposing S. 1843, the Fair Pay Restoration Act and H.R. 2831, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

01.15.08
Letter sent by 10 associations, seeking extension for submission of comments on “10+2” rule, to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

01.02.08
Comments Submitted to Commerce for CAFTA-DR Short Supply Program