US fashion industry to talk about trade policy

Executives working in compliance, logistics, sourcing, supply chain management, government relations, and social responsibility will discuss trade and transportation policy at the 29th Apparel Importers Trade & Transportation Conference in New York City on November 15, 2017. The event marks the 30th anniversary of the American Import Shippers Association.

The conference is being hosted by the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) and American Import Shippers Association (AISA).

With the theme Fashion Made Possible by Global Trade, discussions will focus on how policy proposals will impact the industry’s supply chains and the outlook for sourcing in the new trade and customs policy environment.

Speakers include Mitchel Landau, assistant director, Validation and Compliance Division at the US Customs & Border Protection Centre for Excellence & Expertise (CEE) for Apparel, Footwear, and Textiles; Deborah Marinucci, branch chief, National Commodity Specialist Division, at the US Customs & Border Protection Office of Trade; John Cheh, CEO and vice chairman of Esquel Group; David Spooner of Barnes & Thornburg, former chief textile and apparel negotiator at the Office of the US Trade Representative and former assistant secretary of commerce for import administration; and industry executives across the supply chain.

Following the launch of USFIA’s Social Compliance and Sustainability Committee in July, the conference will feature a panel with the leading organisations in this space discussing how companies can allocate their resources and make a difference; speakers include representatives from the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Canopy, Responsible Business Alliance, and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), as well as sourcing and social compliance executives who have worked for decades at top brands and retailers.