AAFA Welcomes Free Trade Agreement Talks with Kenya
February 7, 2020 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association expressed its support for U.S. negotiations with Kenya for a potential free trade agreement in a statement today.
“Creating added certainty for global supply chains is essential for the growth of American business. AAFA welcomes the opening of talks with Kenya for a potential free trade agreement that would further extend this certainty,” said Steve Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. “While an agreement has the potential to benefit businesses, workers, and consumers in both the U.S. and Kenya, it is important to remember that global value chains work on a regional basis. As such, it is essential that any agreement preserve the state-of-the-art rules enshrined in the African Growth and Opportunity Act, that it encourage regional integration, and provide a path for other African countries to sign agreements with the U.S. AAFA looks forward to working with the administration to provide information on how an agreement could benefit the American apparel and footwear industry, its American workers, and its American consumers.”
Kenya is the 20th largest supplier of apparel to the U.S. market by volume.