AAFA retains hope for lapsed economic aid programmes
Calls from the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) that the US Congress renew various programmes that benefit textile industry workers in developing economies have fallen on deaf ears.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) expired on September 30.
AAFA said it had urged renewal for a long time and made an urgent last-minute appeal a month before the deadline. It argued that renewing these programmes was important because they strengthened garment manufacturing in developing economies and provided alternative sourcing options, while preserving and enhancing competitiveness in the US.
It said renewal was still possible but was likely to be delayed by a US government shutdown.
The association’s AAFA’s vice-president for trade and customs policy, Beth Hughes, said: “Despite persistent and constructive engagement from a wide range of stakeholders, Congress has fallen short in renewing these mutually beneficial programmes, ultimately surrendering further strength to China’s manufacturing influence by placing unnecessary obstacles in the way of viable sourcing alternatives.”
