July 11: The $5 billion project to expand the Panama Canal won't deliver the expected economic boost to the U.S. until East Coast ports are expanded to handle the larger "Post-Panamax" container vessels, importers and retail groups are warning. According to major industry groups, just a handful of ports on the East Coast are ready to take the new ships, such as Baltimore, Norfolk Virginia, and Miami. (Source: Washington Examiner)

July 6: President Obama said Wednesday that he planned to leave 8,400 American troops in Afghanistan until the end of his term, further slowing the drawdown in a 14-year war that Mr. Obama pledged to end on his watch but now seems likely to grind on indefinitely. (Source: New York Times)

July 5: They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. So what are we to make of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s (OEHHA) doubling down on Prop 65, the California chemical labeling law that is as ubiquitous as it is meaningless? (Source: Fox & Hounds)

July 9: Supporters of Bernie Sanders came up short in a fight to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership in the Democratic Party platform, a short-term victory for the Obama administration that could spark another fight at the national convention this month. (Source: Washington Post)

July 11: Lawsuits and investigations into its accounting practices help Alibaba Group in the long run, the Chinese online retail goliath's founder and executive chairman Jack Ma told Reuters Saturday. "If you want to sue us, sue us," Ma told Reuters in response to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation launched earlier this year. (Source: RetailDive)

July 8: Amazon.com is hard at work promoting next week's Prime Day and the more than 100,000 deals available to subscribers. As with all things Amazon, it's intended to be a major party for consumers. But longtime Amazon sellers like Jamie Whaley are in no mood to celebrate. (Source: CNBC)

July 7: The problem of patent abuse is rampant in our country. Weak and overly broad patents are turned against businesses that have little choice but to pay. It is essentially legalized extortion. To some, they have earned the moniker of "patent troll." (Source: The Hill)

In Brief July 12: AAFA members can now access the second annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Benchmarking Survey Report here! For more on this topic and beyond, join our Traceability Seminar July 20 in Austin. July 8: AAFA urged T-TIP negotiators to open port dredging contracts to European companies. See all of AAFA’s latest letters, comments, and testimony here. Product Safety Highlights: AAFA members and the industry at large can now access the Restricted Substances List (RSL) translated into Vietnamese and Mandarin here. Reminder: AAFA maintains a list of every fashion and fashion-accessory related notice for the past six years in the AAFA Prop 65 "60-Day Notice" running list. AAFA also maintains a list of all apparel or footwear related recalls since 1975. Get involved! AAFA members get the most out of membership when they participate in our events and committees – join here. Congress and government agencies solicit comments on a range of issues that may affect your business – find a list of comment opportunities here.

Member Welcome: Bentex Group
Bentex Group is a family of affiliated companies engaged in the design, production, and sales of apparel and home décor products worldwide.

Visit our events calendar for all webinars and industry events. Be sure to save the date for AAFA's Executive Summit: March 1-2, 2017.

Spread the word!   #AAFASummit17

Other Industry Events

MAGIC/FN PLATFORM
August 16, 2016 | Las Vegas, NV

AAFA is pleased to present two sessions at MAGIC and FN PLATFORM 2016. Sessions will include "The Future of Footwear Policy: How Washington's Decisions Impact Sourcing and Selling in New Markets" and "Greening the Supply Chain," both on Tuesday, August 16.