AAFA announces international trade policy
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the national trade association representing the apparel and nonrubber footwear industries, released a fresh proactive international trade policy in June.
The new policy updates the AAFA’s trade agenda to recognise today’s global environment affecting the apparel and nonrubber footwear industries and the new policies address many of the issues that now figure in international business planning, including social responsibility and anti-terrorism.
The policy rests on four tenets:
* promoting flexible and liberalised access to international markets and inputs,
* promoting socially responsible production,
* promoting protection of intellectual property rights and adherence to international trade rules, and
* promoting common sense Customs operations.
"Anybody doing business in these industries today, whether they are providing inputs or making and distributing a final product, is part of a global supply chain," stated Kevin M. Burke, President and CEO of the AAFA. "Simply put, it is in our best interest to reduce tariffs and eliminate quotas here and abroad. This trade agenda reflects the reality of doing business in the 21st century."
Burke noted that the AAFA is working to accomplish these goals through legislative and regulatory activities, through collaboration with foreign trade associations and governments and through initiatives undertaken by individual members.
For example, in addition to its long time support for the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) factory certification programme, the AAFA recently unveiled a new "Excellence in Social Responsibility" Award to recognise outstanding business practices by individual AAFA member companies in several areas of social responsibility. Likewise, the AAFA is fighting for Congressional passage of Trade Promotion Authority and the Andean Trade Preference Expansion Act to knock down US and foreign market barriers.
"At the end of the day, our members operate in a very price sensitive and consumer oriented economy," commented Paul R. Charron, Chairman of AAFA and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Liz Claiborne, Inc. "This trade policy, by helping our members reduce costs, speed their product to market and conduct their activities responsibly, will make them more successful in this tough environment and ultimately, more competitive."
