The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and the Consumer Brands Association (CBA) have expressed strong support for the newly established US-EU trade framework benefits fashion industry.
In a joint statement, AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar and CFDA President Steven Kolb conveyed their appreciation to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, EU President Ursula von der Leyen, and their respective negotiating teams. They highlighted that the implementation of a 15 percent reciprocal tariff rate will not be added on top of the existing high most-favored nation (MFN) tariffs, providing essential relief for the U.S. fashion industry, which has long been burdened by excessive duties on imported materials, equipment, and final products.
“We are urging the U.S. to embrace this vital non-stacking concept in other deals so that the fashion industry can continue to directly and indirectly support more than 10 million U.S. workers as we design, make, market, and sell safe, affordable, authentic, and responsibly made clothes, shoes, and accessories,” they emphasized.
Melissa Hockstad, President and CEO of CBA, also praised the agreement, stating, “Consumer Brands applauds the Trump administration and EU leaders for advancing trade negotiations that will reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers for American companies. The administration’s recognition of unavailable natural resources from the EU is a critical step in strengthening common-sense America First trade policy that will benefit U.S. manufacturers and consumers.”
Hockstad further stressed that, as the largest domestic manufacturing employer, the consumer-packaged goods industry urges U.S. and EU officials to accelerate the implementation of an ambitious trade deal. The US-EU trade framework benefits fashion industry is seen as a significant opportunity to enhance trade relations, reduce manufacturing costs, and ultimately benefit consumers, thus reinforcing the economic strength of both the U.S. and EU markets.
