 during a public hearing, advocating for duty-free access and integrated trade measures across North America){kind=link}
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has firmly expressed its support for the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during a public hearing recently conducted by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).
This testimony was part of a three-day hearing prior to the first Six-Year Joint Review of the USMCA, scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026.
Beth Hughes, Vice President of Trade and Customs Policy for the AAFA, represented the association and provided insights on how the agreement impacts supply chains and employment across the three nations.
Hughes stated, “From cotton to consumer, there is a tightly woven supply chain that binds together a network of workers, farmers, and employers throughout Mexico, the US, and Canada.” She emphasized, “The USMCA enables this supply chain, setting clear and predictable ground rules and articulating a long-term incentive structure that powers jobs, investments, and regional trade. Keeping the USMCA strong and stable is vital to the health and growth of this industry supply chain and to the many communities in all three countries whose livelihoods are dependent upon this robust North American trade partnership. That is why I am here declaring our industry’s support for the USMCA.”
The AAFA’s testimony also included specific points articulated in its written comments submitted to the USTR. The association urged the preservation of duty-free access for goods moving between the three countries while recommending against any further restrictions on rules of origin. It highlighted the need for technical corrections related to short supply provisions and cumulation issues.
According to the association, these measures are essential for maintaining an integrated approach to manufacturing and trade in textiles, apparel, and footwear across North America.
This public testimony builds on previous actions by the industry regarding the ongoing relevance of the USMCA. On November 3, AAFA, along with other organizations from the US, Mexico, and Canada, sent a joint letter to Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative.
The letter noted: “The textile, apparel, footwear, and retail industries in all three countries are deeply integrated, driving economic growth and creating millions of jobs. The USMCA has provided certainty for our industries to invest and provide consumers with affordable, quality products. To strengthen our regional supply chains, the USMCA must be preserved as a trilateral agreement and extended for another 16 years.”
Furthermore, the letter stressed, “The USMCA’s clear, predictable rules of origin have been critical for our industries, and we believe overly burdensome and complex requirements would create unnecessary barriers and increase costs for businesses and working families.”
The USMCA, which took effect on July 1, 2020, is a free trade agreement among the US, Canada, and Mexico, succeeding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).