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AAFA Announces Support for a Total Ban on U.S. Textiles, Apparel and Footwear Imports from Burma

AAFA Announces Support for a Total Ban on U.S. Textiles, Apparel and Footwear Imports from Burma

Published 04-16-03

Submitted by American Apparel & Footwear Association

ARLINGTON, VA - American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) President & CEO Kevin M. Burke announced today that, due to the on-going cruel and repressive nature of the ruling regime in Burma, AAFA has called for an immediate and total ban on U.S. textiles, apparel and footwear imports from that nation.

"The government of Burma continues to abuse its citizens through force and intimidation, and refuses to respect the basic human rights of its people. AAFA believes this unacceptable behavior should be met with condemnation from not only the international public community, but from private industry as well," said Burke.

According to the U.S. government's 2002 Country Report on Human Rights Practices on Burma, the Burmese government has "...continued to restrict worker rights, ban unions, and use forced labor for public works and for the support of military garrisons. Other forced labor, including child labor, remain a serious problem despite recent ordinances outlawing the practice."

Additionally, in 2000, the International Labor Organization (ILO) - for the first time in its history - called on all ILO members to impose sanctions on Burma.

Burke continued, "AAFA, through its mission statement and trade policy, promotes best practices to ensure that goods are produced in a socially responsible manner by encouraging its members to operate under programs and in countries that are compliant with applicable labor and environmental laws. AAFA also encourages the U.S. and other governments, as well as foreign trade associations, to recognize and support programs that have been designed to achieve these goals, such as the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) program."

AAFA also recognizes and applauds the efforts of its own members that have already imposed bans on U.S. imports of Burmese textiles, apparel and footwear for their own firms, and applauds the efforts of numerous U.S. and international governmental and non-governmental organizations to force Burma to respect the basic human rights of its citizens.

To view AAFA's Burma Policy Statement, please go to AAFA's Web site at http://www.apparelandfootwear.org.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear, and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market. AAFA's mission is to promote and enhance its members' competitiveness, productivity and profitability in the global market by minimizing regulatory, commercial, political, and trade restraints.

American Apparel & Footwear Association

American Apparel & Footwear Association

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