The Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) recently alerted its members about the new list of Chinese imports proposed for a 25 per cent tariff. The US Trade Representative’s (USTR) notice is expected to be published in the Federal Register in the next several days.

According to the USTR text, HTS provisions not subject to a specific importer or HTS exclusion will get a 25 per cent duty rate, including HFPA and ADFC [American Down and Feather Council] members’ products.

USTR will also hold public hearings on the tariffs, which the Trump administration proposed in retaliation against subsidies on large civil aircraft by the European Union (EU) and certain EU member states. If enacted, the tariffs would fall on goods imported into the US from all EU member countries. Representatives of the National Retail Federation, Retail Industry Leaders Association and the American Apparel & Footwear Association are also on the hearing panel list. All three groups oppose the tariffs.

The value of Iran’s textile exports rose six per cent during the year. The weight of the country’s textile exports rose 26 per cent. Iranian textile manufacturers’ imports of textile raw materials fell 32 per cent in terms of value and 35 per cent in terms of weight.

The value of non-oil trade during the first month of this Iranian calendar year fell 13.5 per cent compared to that of the same month of the past year. Iran’s exports of non-oil commodities during the first month grew 7.66 per cent in weight but fell 18.25 per cent in value compared to the first month of the previous year. Monthly non-oil imports were up 7.75 per cent in weight but down 7.65 per cent in value year on year. The value of Iran’s trade with neighboring countries in the past Iranian calendar year was about 41 per cent of the country’s total non-oil trade in the mentioned time span.

Iran shares a border with 15 countries, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Oman, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The country plans to launch 15 mega export projects to identify more target markets.

KPR Mill has opened a garment unit in Ethiopia. The complete set-up of the garment unit took about two months. Extensive training of the workforce took place in both Ethiopia and India. At full capacity, the company will employ 1,500 machine workers who will produce 50,000 garment pieces a day for the world market. So far, employment has been created for 700 people and export shipments have commenced to Europe and the United States.

KPR Mills is an integrated textile manufacturing company from India. This is its first overseas garment unit. The opening of the factory is the result of a collaborative partnership with the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) Supporting Indian Trade and investment for Africa program (SITA), which works to build trade and investment linkages between India and East Africa. ITC’s SITA program aims at improving the competitiveness of selected value chains, including textiles and apparel, in five East African countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania – through the provision of partnerships with institutions and businesses from India. KPR Export is a showcase example of Ethiopia’s attractiveness and investment potential and a demonstration of the successful effort by ITC’s SITA program in strengthening business linkages across the Indian Ocean.

Indorama Ventures (IVL), a global chemical producer, has launched a new 100-percent rPET (recycled PET) brand DEJA™ as a part of its continuous commitment to deliver responsible and sustainable growth. IVL’s new 100-percent rPET fiber brand DEJA is available in various forms such as recycled flake, pellet, fiber and filament for use in multiple applications. Its products are derived by recycling 140 kilo tonne of plastic bottles yearly and transforming them into extra-ordinary, innovative, product ingredients. The DEJA brand enables forward-thinking companies to make a decision based on performance and innovative future-proofed materials.

Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, IVL has operating sites in 31 countries on five continents and a global manufacturing footprint across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.The company has been at the forefront of the process in developing the technology to convert rPET bottles into highly usable products for over 40 years. Its heritage in pioneering recycling technology for global applications has ensured consistent delivery and innovation in changing and challenging environments.

IVL continues to build durable competitive advantages through its diversified portfolio, supported by a responsible approach to sustainable business, people and the environment; creating value for society and for customers.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association is severely disappointed by the Trump administration’s decision to propose further tariffs on approximately $300 billion worth of US imports, including clothing, shoes, and other textiles from China. According to AAFA, tariffs are taxes on American consumers that result in higher prices, lower sales, and loss of jobs. While the Administration is in ‘no rush’ to form a deal with China, it is apparently in a hurry to impose new taxes on the American consumer.”

The American Apparel & Footwear Association estimates that a family of four will be charged an additional $500 per year to cover these tariffs on clothing, shoes, travel goods, and related items. The Tariffs Hurt the Heartland campaign estimates that the average family will be hit with an additional $2,300 per year to cover all of the Administration’s tariffs.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition has launched Higg Co, a for profit tech spin that will develop Higg Index technology and make it available for all Higg Index customers. Higg Co. will improve and enhance the experience of using the Higg Index and deliver technology for the robust Higg product roadmap ahead.

The Higg Index is a suite of sustainability assessment tools used globally by brands, retailers and manufacturers to measure the environmental and social performance of a company or product. SAC will focus on bringing members together to learn from each other and drive performance improvement, as well as focus on the Higg Index Product Roadmap, including developing questions and content in the self-assessments and verified assessments in the Higg Index suite of tools. The SAC will also manage the Higg Index Verification Program.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which had estimated the Indian cotton production estimate for the 2018-19 crop year at 345 lakh bales has now lowered its latest estimate by 20 lakh bales to 325 lakh bales. The USDA made this reduction in its latest estimate, released on May 10, 2019 after extensive deliberations with the Cotton Association of India (CAI) and also after considering all aspects and the prevailing situation in India. CAI’s April estimate for the 2018-19 season has placed the Indian cotton crop at 321 lakh bales. The cotton body has reduced its production estimate for 2018-19 crop year, beginning October 1, 2018, to 315 lakh bales, lower by 6 lakh bales, compared to its previous estimate of 321 lakh bales released last month.

The cotton crop estimate released by the CAI for Maharashtra is lower by 2 lakh bales compared to its previous estimate made last month while the cotton crop estimates for the North Zone, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, now made by the CAI, are lower by 1 lakh bales each compared to the previous month estimate. Water scarcity in some states and uprooting of cotton plants by farmers in about 70-80 per cent area without waiting for 3rd and 4th pickings are the main reasons for reduction in the cotton crop this year.

TexSelect (previously called Texprint) will select, mentor and promote the UK’s most talented newly graduated textile designers for the last time as the organisation plans to close its operations this year. Over the last 50 years, TexSelect has interviewed over 10,000 young textile designers and supported more than 1,250 of them to develop their careers and launch into the industry. But as the industry changes and sponsorship budgets shrink, TexSelect has found it tough in recent years to raise the funds required. At the same time, many members of its loyal and long-serving management team are retiring.

TexSelect’s presence at Première Vision Paris this September will also be its last trip to the international textiles fair, which has given outstanding support to the charity over many years. Its London Preview will be held at Chelsea College of Arts in July, with the exhibition showcasing the work of this year’s cohort of selected designers from July, 10-11, 2019.

Rwanda has signed partnership deal with a Chinese garment firm, China’s Pink Mango C&D, to set up a modern garment factory in the Kigali Special Economic zone to produce garments for both the domestic and export markets. Pink Mango C&D is expected generate cumulative export earnings of $20million over the next five years and provide 7,500 jobs to Rwandans by the fifth year. Furthermore, the company will build capacity and skills transfer to 500 workers of local garment cooperatives who will also benefit from some of their supply contracts through an outsourcing model.

Pink Mango C&D establishment will support the construction of a garment industry ecosystem attracting other players in dyeing, knitting and weaving as well as accessories suppliers to open up shop in Rwanda hence it is indeed an exciting addition to this growing industry. The firm's decision was attracted by Rwanda's conducive business environment, and its investor facilitation. The government of Rwanda provides tax incentives, affordable utility services, and land accessibility, among others.

China’s C&H Garments was the first player to invest in the Rwanda’s manufacturing. It entered the market in 2014 and currently produces police and military uniforms, immigration department and schools. The firm also employs more than 1,000 people, arguably one of the largest private sector employers in the country.

Ijaz A. Khokhar, Chief Coordinator of Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) has urged the government to set up sector wise, central, provincial and regional level task forces to boost exports in the sector. He advised the government to take effective steps for making the value-added textile industry competitive and vibrant in International market. According to him, the value-added garments sector was showing considerable growth as it exported $6 billion products and was a major tax payer.

Khokhar says, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) opened not only fundamentals of industrial cooperation between the two friendly countries but also had paved the way for new vistas of economic stability, industrial growth and development in Pakistan. He therefore urged upon the Chinese government to simplify the visa process particularly for the business community adding that Chinese Embassy in Pakistan should grant multiple visas to Pakistani businessmen.