American Brands Welcome Limited Tariff Respite; Seek Certainty and More Comprehensive Approach to Restore Predictability and Affordability to Market
April 9, 2025 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association responds to a 90-day pause and lowering of “reciprocal” tariffs, as well as additional tariffs placed on U.S. imports from China, announced by President Trump today.
Steve Lamar, President and CEO of AAFA, expressed concern over this minute-by-minute trade policy chaos:
"The on-again, off-again tariff policy is forcing companies to careen between chaos and costs. While we welcome this limited pause to give negotiators in the U.S. and dozens of trading partners a chance to hammer out sustainable outcomes, it is only a first step in a policy that needs to be more comprehensive, predictable, and durable if we want to encourage the kind of investments that will support more U.S. jobs.
“This policy continues to subject U.S. imports of our industry’s largest trading partner to an unsustainable tax. If left in place, this extreme tariff on U.S. imports from China, which is in addition to President Trump’s Section 301 tariffs, will lead to higher prices for everyday apparel, footwear, and accessories and higher costs for U.S. manufacturers who rely on materials and items they can only source from China.
“It is our hope that this limited pause can be extended to all countries so that U.S. companies, now caught in the crosshairs of a frenzied trade war, can focus their energies on encouraging the U.S. and its key trading partners to negotiate an end to both U.S. and foreign trade barriers. We further urge the Administration to work closely with Congress, and with all stakeholders, so that we can forge a more durable trade policy that is based on partnership of reciprocal trade, not fear of crushing tariffs.”
For more information and regular updates on the impacts on the U.S. apparel and footwear industry, including the very high tariffs that have been in place on our industry for nearly 95 years, please visit AAFA's
Fashion Tariffs 101 page.
AAFA endorsed
The Trade Review Act of 2025, introduced last week by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. This bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Peter Welch (D-VT), Todd Young (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The legislation would recover more certainty to U.S. trade policy, and take a big step towards reasserting Congress’ constitutional authority over trade, as mandated in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.