American Footwear Association Welcomes Congress'S Approval To Extend Andean Trade Aid For Six Weeks

The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) welcomed the approval of Congress to extend the Andean Trade Preference Act and Trade Adjustment Assistance for six weeks, but expressed disappointment that the United States Congress failed to extend other trade preference plans, suspend some tariffs on miscellaneous trade bills, and failed to make technical amendments to the Wool and Cotton Floss Trust Fund. The Andean Trade Preference Act will expire on December 31, 2010.

"Although Congress reached an agreement on extending the Andean Trade Preference Act for just six weeks, it failed to extend the expiring trade preference for 18 months, which could not meet the long-term stability and predictability required by the U.S. clothing and footwear industry, because we want to provide affordable clothing and shoes "Kevin Burke, president and CEO of AAFA, said.

He said: "When the new Congress starts to work next month, the Congress must extend the Andes Trade The Preferential Law and the Generalized System of Preferences made technical amendments to the Wool and Cotton Trust Fund through the pending package of carefully reviewed tariff moratoriums in the Miscellaneous Trade Act. We look forward to the opportunity for Congress to pass these updates and restore more than 50 non controversial footwear, clothing and textile regulations, which need not be deleted from miscellaneous tariff bills.

American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is a national industry association, representing garment, footwear and other sewing products companies, as well as their suppliers participating in global market competition. The mission of AAFA is to promote and strengthen the competitiveness, productivity and profitability of its members in the global market by reducing commercial, political and trade restrictions.