Arlington, VA - The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)
today welcomed action on several important trade-related pieces of
legislation by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. The Senate Finance
Committee today voted to approve legislation that would apply permanent
normal trade relations with Russia and Moldova, make technical
corrections to the U.S./Central America Free Trade Agreement, extend third country fabric provisions to the African Growth and Opportunity Act,
renew the Cotton and Wool Trust Funds, and renew the President's
authority to maintain the import ban on goods from Burma from entering
the U.S. market. These legislative items now move to the full Senate for
consideration.
"Today's action by the Senate Finance Committee to advance these
important provisions send the loud and clear message that the United
States will maintain its leadership position in the global market," said
AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. "By establishing permanent
normal trade relations with Russia ahead of Russia's upcoming accession
to the World Trade Organization later this summer, U.S. companies and
their workers will have greater access to new Russian customers and
stronger protections offered by the rules based global trading system."
"AAFA has long supported trade liberalizing efforts, like the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the U.S./Central America Free Trade Agreement,
and initiatives to support domestic manufacturers through programs like
the Cotton and Wool Trust Funds," said Burke. "The four million
Americans in the U.S. apparel and footwear industry benefit from greater
ability to both import and export as easily as possible, and these
provisions strengthen or renew existing programs to provide for enhanced
trade facilitation."
"The U.S. apparel and footwear industry will continue working with
congressional stakeholders to see these legislative items passed by the
full Senate and the House of Representatives as quickly as possible,"
Burke said. "For some of these provisions with expiration dates, like
the AGOA third country fabric provision, swift action is required."
Source: https://www.wewear.org/aafa-welcomes-senate-finance-committee-markup-of-trade-legislation/?CategoryId=2