Posts

October 25th, 2024

The Canadian Apparel Federation has submitted preliminary comments to the Canadian government regarding the renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, (CUSMA).  CUSMA (known as USMCA in the United States) is the successor to NAFTA. Implemented in 2020, the agreement contained a requirement that the parties would need to renew the agreement in 2026.  The Canadian government established a consultation to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to submit preliminary comments about the renewal priorities. It is extremely unusual in a large …

October 25th, 2024

The Canadian government has  requested comments on its forced labour import ban. The review was announced  earlier this month and the deadline for comments is: November 15, 2024.  In the 2023 and 2024 budgets, the Canadian government promised to enhance the import prohibition.  Canada first enacted a ban on the import of goods made in whole or in part with forced labour as part of the implementation of the Canada-US Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in July 2020. Canada has been criticized …

September 23rd, 2024

CAF is committed to adding new program partners to our membership offering. One of the key areas is logistics services offered by 3PL providers.  In particular, e-commerce sales have generated substantial demand for 3PL service providers to support Canadian apparel brands. We are looking for proposals from 3PL providers who can offer services to our members at preferred rates, or with service enhancements. Anyone interested in offering services to the Canadian Federation in this area should contact Bob Kirke, CAF …

September 18th, 2024

The Canadian government earlier this year launched a review of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE). CAF submitted comments in October.  Any CAF member firm interested in receiving those comments should contact Bob Kirke (bkirke@apparel.ca) at the Canadian Apparel Federation.  Our comments dealt with the mandate and the operations of the office. Please find below the text of the government communications regarding this review: In January 2024, the Government of Canada committed to undertake a review of the office of the …

September 17th, 2024

  Together with the support of the Portuguese trade commission, the Canadian Apparel Federation is planning a trade mission to Portugal during the week of December 9th, highlighting opportunities for Canadian apparel companies to secure both production partners in that country.  Many Canadian apparel firms currently produce in Portugal. The benefits of manufacturing in that country are: High quality production,  A strong local infrastructure including textiles and trim, Relatively low labour costs,  A high level of knowledge and expertise in …

September 16th, 2024

    The Canadian government is considering a change to its duty drawback policies to allow companies to donate surplus merchandise to charitable organizations within Canada and receive a refund on any duties paid on imported goods. This proposed change aims to reduce waste and provide much-needed support to Canadians in need. Currently, surplus goods may qualify for duty refunds if the merchandise is either exported or destroyed.  The rules are contained in CBSA D-Memo D7-2-3.  The rules in place …

August 22nd, 2024

We are excited to announce that CAF will launch a brand-new website in September. This upgrade is a key part of our ongoing efforts to enhance membership management and communication. Over the past year, we have been working diligently to update our website, along with our membership application and renewal processes. These changes will streamline administrative tasks and allow us to deliver important information to our members more efficiently. One of the major enhancements will be the introduction of working …

August 7th, 2024

The 2024 SPESA Executive Conference — making its Canadian debut this year in Montréal, QC  will bring together suppliers, manufacturers, brands, retailers, and other apparel industry stakeholders to network and discuss some of the most important issues impacting the industry in the Western Hemisphere, including:  advanced textile technology, revolutionary sustainability initiatives, AI in supply chains, Canadian manufacturing, and the next generation of the industry. This three-day event features a day of educational sessions, a day of factory tours, and multiple …

Posted by Bob Kirke July 29th, 2024

MONTREAL & OTTAWA, July 24, 2024 - CS PAIEMENT (www.cspaiement.com), a certified Clover distributor, is pleased to announce a partnership with the CANADIAN APPAREL FEDERATION (CAF) (www.apparel.ca). This partnership aims to provide advantageous rates on payment solutions as well as personalized customer service to CAF members. The CAF, a key player in the apparel industry, represents a broad network of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers across Canada. Through this association, CAF members will benefit from an exclusive discount program on CS …

Posted by Bob Kirke July 22nd, 2024

The Canadian government recently introduced changes to the Competition Act which will have a substantial impact on sustainability claims made by Canadian companies. These changes will force many companies to revisit how they promote their products in terms of sustainability in light of the substantial penalties that can be levied by the Competition Bureau.  tc) to bring complaints to the Competition Bureau on these issues. On July 22, 2024, the Competition Bureau launched a public consultation to seek comments from the …