Apparel and Footwear Group expresses need for NAFTA to remain trilateral; support U.S. jobs and regional trade

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – August 27, 2018 – Rick Helfenbein, president and CEO of the
American Apparel & Footwear Association, welcomed the conclusion of bilateral talks with
Mexico on NAFTA and emphasized the need for Canada to be a part of any final agreement.
Helfenbein also highlighted the need for the industry to be able to review the details prior to
forming an opinion on the pact.

“The conclusion of talks between the U.S. and Mexico is a positive step in the NAFTA
negotiations, however it is essential that the updated agreement remain trilateral. At the
same time, we encourage the administration to share the details of the agreement so the
business community can inspect the impact on North American supply chains and share
feedback with the administration and Congress,” said Helfenbein.

“It is important to remember that the existing NAFTA works well for the apparel and footwear
industry and its nearly 4 million U.S. workers, while at the same time providing real value to
our U.S. consumers. Any update to the agreement must continue to support these American
jobs, promote trade linkages, and be seamlessly implemented to be considered a success. It
is with this in mind that we are deeply concerned to hear any mention of withdrawal or
termination of the existing agreement at this late stage.”