A national trade association recognized as American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) represents apparel, footwear and other sewn product companies against their suppliers that compete in the international market.
Its aim is to promote and enhance member's competitiveness, productivity and profitability in the international market by minimizing regulatory, legal, commercial, political and trade restraints.
AAFA recently expressed support for the Commonwealth's attempt to seek a change in the CNMI's special tariff privilege by sending a letter to the US Congress.
Many US apparel companies are waiting to find whether Congress will act to assist the CNMI garment industry, which is part of the broader US textile and apparel industry.
US Senate seeks to amend General Note 3(a) and if it were successful it would help a rapidly downsizing Saipan apparel industry to compete better with foreign items especially from Asian nations.
Also US buyers will have greater opportunity to procure competitively priced goods from CNMI manufacturers and reduce reliance on Asian suppliers, if the amendment is successfully implemented.
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