The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has voiced strong concern following President Trump's announcement today of a 90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs and the introduction of additional tariffs on US imports from China.

Steve Lamar, president and CEO of AAFA, criticised the ongoing unpredictability in trade policy, stating: “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 US jobs.”

He warned that the continued imposition of extreme tariffs on US imports from China—the largest trading partner for the apparel and footwear industry—would raise costs for businesses and consumers alike.

“This policy continues to subject US imports of our industry’s largest trading partner to an unsustainable tax. If left in place, this extreme tariff on US 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 US manufacturers who rely on materials and items they can only source from China."

Lamar called for the tariff pause to be extended to all countries, encouraging the US and its trading partners to move away from retaliatory measures and towards constructive dialogue.

“It is our hope that this limited pause can be extended to all countries so that US companies, now caught in the crosshairs of a frenzied trade war, can focus their energies on encouraging the US and its key trading partners to negotiate an end to both US 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.”

AAFA has also endorsed the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, introduced last week by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee. The legislation, co-sponsored by a cross-party coalition of senators, aims to restore Congressional authority over trade policy, as stipulated in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution, and bring much-needed predictability to US trade practices.

By Fibre2Fashion 
https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/apparel-announcement-news/us-aafa-welcomes-brief-tariff-relief-urge-lasting-reform-301936-newsdetails.htm