Supply Chain in the Fashion Industry Event Nov. 10th

Interested in the behind-the-scenes inner workings of the movement of fashion from factory to sales floor?  Come to this event!

From Runaway to Retailer 

A Panel Discussion on Supply Chain in the Fashion Industry

Panel Members: 

Jacqui Wenzel, President, Kimora Lee Simmons KLS (Luxury fashion brand)

 

David Meir Sasson,  COO, Derek Lam (Women’s designer clothing, handbags and accessories retailer)

 

Corey Weeks, Director Supply Chain, Hudson’s Bay Company (Chain of 90 department stores that operates across Canada

Moderated By Jacqueline Jenkins, Dean of Graduate Studies, LIM College.

Taking place at LIM College in Manhattan together with APICS-NYC, you can get your tickets online here:

https://apicsnyc-li.starchapter.com/meet-reg1.php?mi=f887bdb1faac9efd39000c72023efdfe&id=138

See you there!

Join Me Nov. 12th at 7 PM for "Fall Freight Night!"

Fall Freight Night!

I'm on the Advisory Board for the Urban Assembly's School for Global Commerce. We're hosting our annual fundraiser, Fall Freight Night, on Thursday, November 12th at 7pm. 

Tickets are $40 and that gets you 2 drinks and 1 raffle ticket (although you can always donate more than $40 if you want). It's going to be at Professor Thom's in Manhattan and it's going to be a stellar event. 

Feel free to invite as many people as you want - just make sure they get tickets in advance. https://2015-uasgc-fall-freight-night.eventbrite.com. 

Hope to see you there!

All Good Things Must Come to an End…

I’m pleased to announce that I will be moving on from my law firm to a new role as the Associate Director & Counsel of Global Trade Solutions for a company called Choice Logistics.

Having grown and developed at the law firm over the last 9 years, as well as taken on new adventures as an adjunct professor at both the Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY F.I.T.) and LIM College, I can easily say that it has been a great run during this time.

I’d like to thank Bill Shayne for his mentorship and guidance and all of my other mentors who helped to shape me along the way, including Irving Williamson, former Chairman and Commissioner at the U.S. International Trade Commission. 

I anticipate that my blog writing will slow down considerably and will cease at some point, however, I always welcome any readers to reach out with any questions at any time.

All the best to everyone!

"China Through the Looking Glass" Exhibit Through 9/7/15

This is the last week to enjoy the NYC Met Museum’s “China Through the Looking Glass” exhibit with incredible fashions done in collaboration with the Costume Institute. It’s not to be missed!

Have You Heard That GSP is Back?

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) allows for the duty-free treatment of certain goods imported directly from designated beneficiary countries for specific periods of time.

While the GSP had expired on July 29, 2015 it was renewed through December 31, 2017, with a retroactive application between August 1, 2013 and July 28, 2015.  

This means that US Customs is now accepting claims for GSP duty-free merchandise when imports are entered into the US and they are now processing refunds on duties paid, without interest, on merchandise entered during the period that the program had lapsed (i.e., between August 1, 2013 and July 28, 2015) where entries had been filed electronically. Customs is therefore, automatically liquidating, or reliquidating, eligible formal and informal entries made during this lapsed time.

Where entry had not been made electronically however, including entries made by mail, or those by travelers, requests for liquidation must be made by December 28, 2015 pursuant to the procedures set forth in US Customs website under the "GSP Refund Process."

The good news is that now entry filers can  resume filing entry summaries without the payment of estimated duties on  GSP eligible entry summaries. It's also good for those planning importations as realistic price and other projections can be made for, at least, the short term through 2017.

Questions/comments?  Feel free to post below.

Keep up with me at www.fashioncompliance.com or:

On Facebook at www.facebook.com/FashionCompliance by *liking* the page

On Twitter @fashcompliance

The Trade Promotion Authority - Pros and Cons

(authored by Hayoon Jung, my summer law clerk)

On May 22, 2015 the U.S. Congress gave President Obama expanded trade negotiation powers by passing the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA, 19 U.S.C.A. § 3801-3813). The TPA shortens the time a trade agreement implementing bill stays in Congress by restricting Congressional power to amend the submitted bill. TPA requires the President to hear Congress’ opinion in the course of trade negotiations to assure the trade agreement obtains its goal.  

To maintain its Constitutional power in U.S. commerce, Congress requires the President to hear its opinion in the course of trade negotiations and delineated trade objectives, such as expanded market opportunities. Moreover, TPA restricts the implementing bill to consist only of provisions that approve the trade agreement and administrative action necessary to implement it. Also, the bill should include “only such provisions as are strictly necessary or appropriate” (italics added). Compared to the 2002 TPA, which did not contain such italicized words, this more stringent standard represents a Congressional intent to interpret the law narrowly.

The Process

In this expedited process, an implementing bill submitted by the President is automatically introduced in both houses concurrently, unlike in the regular legislative process. Then, the appropriate committee of each Chamber examines the bill. The debate is limited to 20 hours, whereas there is no limit in the regular process. Then the bill goes to the floor in each Chamber for the members to vote. Each Chamber has to either approve it fully or deny the bill without amendments. Timely floor consideration, limited debate time, and a prohibition on amendments are the three elements that allow the expedited process.

Pros and Cons

The advocates say TPA is neither giving the President a new power, nor depriving the Congress of its legislative power, because Congress still participates in drafting and implementing a bill and reserves the right to deny the bill as in the regular process (https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43491.pdf)

Furthermore, the TPA will promote the U.S. economy by inducing more trade agreements. The reduced cost of re-negotiation will enable other countries to more easily enter into, and finalize trade agreements with the U.S. New agreements will lower trade barriers, thus increasing the volume of international commerce, in turn entailing a higher GDP, spurring job growth.

In contrast, opponents of the TPA express concerns about the seemingly diminished Congressional power in legislating laws (http://dailycaller.com/2015/04/08/uaw-voices-its-opposition-to-trade-promotion-authority). Likewise, they think TPA is unnecessary because both the House and the Senate are aware of the necessity of trade agreements and its reciprocity (http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/ftb56.pdf They also argue that the individual industries and the workers will be the ones bearing the cost of the lower trade barriers, because they are forced cut the cost to remain competitive in the market (AFL-CIO, http://dailycaller.com/2015/04/08/uaw-voices-its-opposition-to-trade-promotion-authority).

What do you think? Let us know by sharing your comments below!

Sunset Park Brooklyn is Now Part of the Federal "Maritime Highway!"

Last week the Brooklyn South Marine Terminal (SBMT) in Sunset Park, Brooklyn was designated part of the new federal "marine highway" to foster greater local and international commerce, and to foster greater use of NYC’s local waterways.

Plans include the creation of a container carrying barge service (like that behind me in the photo above) between the Port of Elizabeth and the SBMT, to have an ability to support the nearby Red Hook container terminal, and the development of a deep water container port.

As part of the blueprint for a "sustainable city," it's believed that by moving thousands of trucks from NYC streets by floating them over from New Jersey to Brooklyn, not only will truck traffic and road repairs be reduced, but there will also be a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 10,000 tons.

Present at the SBMT announcement were NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio and numerous other city, state, and federal officials, including City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, who represents the Sunset Park and Red Hook neighborhoods, Congresswoman Nydia Vasquez and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, who also represent this local district, and Eric Adams, the Brooklyn Borough President.

With $1.2 trillion flowing through the NYC economy each year, NYC Economic Development Corp. will be managing the development of SBMT with the dual aim to also reinvigorate job creation in the neighborhood Sunset Park.

With a maritime and manufacturing community growing here in Sunset Park, including my friends over at Manufacture New York, I am looking forward to seeing how SBMT enhances local manufacturing efforts for the better.

Questions/comments?  Post below or email me at clark.deanna@gmail.com

Keep up with me at www.fashioncompliance.com or:

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On Twitter @fashcompliance