In February 2023, the International Apparel Federation (IAF) participated in the OECD's Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector in Paris.

This event brought together brands, suppliers, NGOs, CSOs, international bodies, and government representatives from around the world, and was the first in-person event since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The IAF represented the interests of garment manufacturers and small and medium-sized brands, expressing support for European corporate sustainability due diligence legislation while emphasizing the need for effective enforcement and implementation in line with the OECD's due diligence guidance to create a level playing field.

At the event, the IAF and its partners in the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) highlighted that purchasing practices are fundamental to effective due diligence. The STTI is a coalition of 13 associations from 10 garment manufacturing countries, supported by the IAF, GIZ Fabric, and the Better Buying Institute, and was represented by various individuals, including Dr. Liang Xiaohui of CNTAC from China, Cem Altan, President of IAF and member of the Board of TCMA from Turkey, and Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA and IAF Board Member from Turkey.

During a panel discussion, Matthijs Crietee, Secretary General of IAF, commented that the way due diligence is implemented in a supply chain can lead to bad purchasing practices, highlighting that corporate sustainability due diligence is a risk-sharing exercise, not a risk transfer exercise. Another panel focused on how brands and suppliers could collaborate to share the costs and responsibilities of due diligence more fairly, with Dr. Liang Xiaohui discussing STTI's origins and the need for a collaborative solution.