U.S. Clothing and Footwear Association Extends Andean Trade Discount Act

The American Association of Apparel and Footwear (AAFA) welcomes the congressional approval to extend the Andean Trade Bargaining Act and trade adjustment assistance for six weeks, but the Association’s failure to extend other trade concessions by the U.S. Congress suspends certain tariffs on the Miscellaneous Trade Act and fails Disappointed to make technical amendments to the wool and cotton trust funds. The Andean Trade Promotion Bill will expire on December 31, 2010.

"Although Congress agreed on extending the Andean Trade Promotion Act for only six weeks, it has failed to extend the expiring trade concession for 18 months. This does not meet the long-term stability and needs of the US apparel and footwear industry. Predictive, because we want to provide consumers with affordable clothing and shoes for the market,” said Kevin Burke, AAFA President and Chief Executive Officer.

He said: "When the new parliament begins its work next month, Congress must extend the Andean Trade Preferential Law and the Generalized System of Preferences, and through the suspended batch of well-reviewed tariff suspensions in the Miscellaneous Trade Act, the Wool and Cotton Trust Fund must be made. Technical amendments We look forward to an opportunity for Congress to recover more than 50 non-controversial footwear, apparel and textile regulations through these updates, which do not need to be removed from the miscellaneous tariff bill.

The American Association of Apparel and Footwear (AAFA) is a national trade association that represents sewing companies such as apparel and footwear, as well as their suppliers that compete in the global market. AAFA's mission is to promote and strengthen the competitiveness of its members in the global market, productivity and profitability in the global market by reducing commercial, political and trade restrictions.