AAFA wants NAFTA to stay trilateral; support US jobs

31 Aug '18

2 min read

Welcoming the conclusion of US-Mexico talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has emphasized the need for Canada to be a part of any final agreement. The industry should review the details before forming an opinion on the pact, AAFA president and chief executive officer Rick Helfenbein said.

“The conclusion of talks between the U.S. and Mexico is a positive step in the NAFTA negotiations, however it is essential that the updated agreement remain trilateral. At the same time, we encourage the administration to share the details of the agreement so the business community can inspect the impact on North American supply chains and share feedback with the administration and Congress,” said Helfenbein in a statement.

“It is important to remember that the existing NAFTA works well for the apparel and footwear industry and its nearly 4 million US workers, while at the same time providing real value to our US consumers. Any update to the agreement must continue to support these American jobs, promote trade linkages, and be seamlessly implemented to be considered a success. It is with this in mind that we are deeply concerned to hear any mention of withdrawal or termination of the existing agreement at this late stage,” Helfenbein added. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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