American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) President and CEO Kevin M. Burke applauded Congressional approval of a package of trade provisions related to the Caribbean Basin, the Andean region, and Africa.
“AAFA congratulates the Congress for its swift action this week,” said Burke. “These programs were urgently needed.”
In total, Congress approved a one year extension for Colombia and Peru under the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), six month extensions for Bolivia and Ecuador under the ATPA, and one year extension for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
The bill creates a new Earned Import Allowance Program (EIAP) for the Dominican Republic, which will provide crucial help for Dominican trouser producers and their U.S. fabric suppliers. Finally, the bill makes critically important changes regarding third country fabric provisions in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Burke was particularly grateful for Congressional action on the Andean program – three months before the program was set to expire – to ensure continued growth in the U.S./Andean textile trade partnership.
“About $250 million worth of U.S. cotton and textiles were exported to the four Andean countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru last year,” continued Burke. “American jobs depend on fair, two-way trade with the Andean region and other developing nations worldwide.”
American Apparel & Footwear Association
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