Top Brazilian and United States textile and apparel executives met with Brazilian and U.S. government officials yesterday in Washington, D.C., to discuss the challenges and opportunities of international trade. The one-day summit, Textiles and Clothing: U.S.-Brazil Dialogue on the Challenges of Globalization, focused on the need to continue to forge and strengthen partnerships between the two countries and to integrate trade relationships throughout the hemisphere and around the world. The summit concluded with the leaders of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT) signing a memorandum of understanding as the first step in continuing and increasing cooperation.

Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. Antonio Patriota opened the summit by emphasizing its objectives. "We are at the beginning of a new age of cooperation between our two countries," Patriota said. "This is our first bilateral summit concerning textiles and apparel, and it comes at a time when both of us are facing unprecedented competition from abroad. As we find ways to work together we will see both of our industries strengthened. The large turnout here today from Brazil and the U.S., both from industry and government, is very gratifying, and it indicates to me that today's summit is only the first of many meetings toward closer relations."

The summit followed an April 28 session of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum, which was launched in 2007 to strengthen bilateral economic and commercial relations. The April 29 textile and apparel summit is the first industry-specific effort toward that objective. Sponsored by ABIT, with the support of the U.S. and Brazilian governments, the meeting hopes to encourage cooperation and investment between industries in the two countries. "We hope this is the first of many discussions on how we can cooperate to grow our industries," stated Aguinaldo Diniz Filho, president of ABIT. "The textile and apparel markets truly compete globally. The U.S. and Brazil have the largest GDPs in the Americas and are home to the third and fifth largest populations in the world, respectively. It makes sense for us to join forces to compete in the international marketplace. Together we will be able to integrate the whole hemisphere to promote social and economic development."

"We welcome this opportunity to look for mutual areas of cooperation," added Kevin M. Burke, president and chief executive officer of AAFA. "Our members are always looking for new markets and new opportunities."

"The Brazilian market in many ways is similar to the United States market," stated Cass Johnson, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations. "We look forward to further discussions with ABIT."

The closed-door meeting took place at the Ronald Reagan Building at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., and was followed by a press conference at 3:30 p.m. At that time, Mr. Diniz Filho, Mr. Burke and government officials from Brazil and the U.S. answered questions from the press.

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.

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is a unique association representing the entire spectrum of the textile sector. From fibers to finished products, from machinery manufacturers to power suppliers, NCTO is the voice of the U.S. textile industry.

Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services Inc. is a leading provider of trade-related management and consulting services to government and industry. Its affiliated law firm, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is a customs and international trade law firm concentrating in assisting clients with the global movement of goods, ideas and personnel and the setting of global trade policy.

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AAFA