“These tariffs aren’t quite as high as tariffs on the fashion industry, which can reach 32% on some products. However, we know these tariffs will be catastrophic for the US economy and jobs. We’re not being partisan or subjective; it’s Trade Policy 101—and we can expect widespread net job loss in the United States as a result, according to early studies, not to mention regressive taxes on American consumers. This is not the way to support American companies and jobs, and definitely not the way to participate in the global economy,” the association said in a statement.

“The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) strongly opposes tariffs, and other barriers to trade that ignore 21st-century supply chains and business operations. And we’re especially opposed to egregious tariff increases like those announced today, which are based not on fact, but on the fiction that imports harm domestic jobs. On the contrary, imports support high-quality jobs for Americans, help American businesses to grow and thrive, and encourage American companies to do good in other parts of the world, too.”

“While our members don’t import a lot of steel or aluminium, these tariffs could result in disastrous consequences for them. Already, the European Union is calling out a variety of industries—including iconic American denim and t-shirts—as potential targets for tariff increases of their own.”

The USFIA represents the fashion industry: textile and apparel brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally. Founded in 1989 as the United States Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel with the goal of eliminating the global apparel quota system, USFIA now works to eliminate the tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede the industry’s ability to trade freely and create economic opportunities in the United States and abroad.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, USFIA is a respected voice for the fashion industry in front of the US government, as well as international governments and stakeholders. With constant, two-way communication, USFIA staff and counsel serve as the eyes and ears of its members in Washington and around the world, enabling them to stay ahead of the regulatory challenges.

“In 2018, and every year, USFIA supports fashion made possible by global trade, and the high-quality jobs in the industry made possible by global trade—design, marketing, logistics, compliance, and retail, to name a few. And today, we support all U.S. jobs and economic opportunities made possible by global trade—especially those using imported steel and aluminium,” the statement concluded.

www.usfashionindustry.com