Importers eye reform to ease CAFTA-DR apparel rules
Apparel importers are calling on the U.S. to ease restrictions in the Dominican-Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, saying their proposed reforms would support the Biden administration’s interests in near-shoring and improving economic conditions in Central America to stem migration. According to Beth Hughes, vice president for trade and customs policy at the American Apparel and Footwear Association, overly strict rules of origin have made it difficult for the apparel industry to “increase competitiveness” in the region since the deal was...