AAFA CEO Steve Lamar warned that President Trump's tariff policy is 'ill-advised' and could negatively impact U.S. supply chains, potentially harming millions of American jobs and undermining domestic manufacturing.

On March 31, 2025, AAFA, in partnership with the Fair Labor Association, sent a letter to USTR urging the preservation of nearly $580 million in ILAB grants. The letter argued that canceling these grants undermines efforts to enforce labor standards, protect workers' rights, and prevent forced labor and other abuses globally, ultimately harming American workers and businesses.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association issued a statement warning that the Trump administration's elimination of ILAB grants—which fund initiatives to combat child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking—will create an uneven playing field for US businesses and undermine critical labor protections.

AAFA, in collaboration with the Fair Labour Association (FLA), sent a public letter urging Department of Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to preserve, protect, and promote the Bureau of International Labour Affairs (ILAB). The letter emphasized ILAB's role in enforcing labor standards, combating child and forced labor, and supporting collective bargaining, which is critical for safeguarding American workers in the apparel and footwear industries.

AAFA, in collaboration with FLA, sent a letter to US Secretary of Labor urging the preservation and promotion of ILAB programs which safeguard labor rights for American and international garment workers. The letter highlighted the importance of enforcing and upholding labor standards, including measures against child labor, forced labor, and in favor of collective bargaining.

In a statement featured in the Business of Fashion article dated March 7, 2025, AAFA's senior vice president of policy, Nate Herman, warned that the Trump administration’s decision to freeze significant foreign aid has jeopardized hard-won labor rights protections in global fashion supply chains, risking a swift rollback of progress achieved over two decades.

On March 28, 2023, American Apparel & Footwear Association, in partnership with the Fair Labor Association, re-launched and enhanced their Apparel & Footwear Industry Commitment to Responsible Recruitment. The initiative aims to protect migrant workers by ensuring they are not burdened with recruitment fees, have control over their travel documents, and are treated with dignity and fairness.