P R E S S R E L E A S E:
_______________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 2003
Contact: Dan Beeton, 202-547-5985; Aung Din, 301-602-0077

Powerful Industry Association Calls for Ban on Apparel Imports from Burma

American Association of Apparel and Footwear Manufacturers Takes Strong
Stand on Human Rights

ARLINGTON, VA - In an unusual move, the powerful American Association of Apparel and Footwear Manufacturers has called for the U.S. government to impose a ban on apparel and footwear products from Burma because of massive human rights abuses in that country. The Association calls for the
government to enact and "maintain this ban until Burma demonstrates that it recognizes, respects, and enforces basic human and labor rights for its own citizens." The Association has almost 1,000 member companies including industry powerhouses like Levi-Strauss & Company, Sara Lee Branded Apparel, Liz Claiborne, and Perry Ellis.

"The Association has done the right thing. This will strengthen our
coalition's grassroots effort to boycott 'Made in Burma' products," says
Aung Din, Director of Policy for the Free Burma Coalition. "No companies -
U.S. or otherwise - should profit from forced labor in Burma."

The Association's move follows pledges from over 40 companies in the apparel industry to shun products from Burma, ruled by the military dictator Than Shwe. Companies boycotting products "Made in Burma" include Wal-Mart, Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores, Tommy Hilfiger, Phillips-Van Heusen, Jones Apparel, Gart Sports, Saks, Adidas, The Spiegel Group, and Columbia Sportswear. Over the past year, apparel imports from Burma dropped by 27%, from $411 to $303 million, depriving the cash-hungry regime of significant income.

Companies avoid production in Burma due in part to grassroots boycott
campaigns that raise the issue of foreign investors doing business with
Burma's dictatorship, which uses systemic forced labor. International
agencies and governments, including the International Labor Organization and the U.S. State Department, have documented the regime's massive use of forced labor: "Forced labor, including forced child labor, has contributed
materially to the construction of industrial parks subsequently used largely
to produce manufactured exports including garments," the State Department stated in a report.

Since 1995, the U.S.-based Free Burma Coalition has successfully persuaded over 70 U.S. multinational corporations to leave Burma. Currently, the coalition is calling on TIAA-CREF, the largest U.S. pension fund, to take action on its investment in companies that operate in Burma. The Free Burma Coalition's campaigns are a response to the call by Burma's National League for Democracy for companies to avoid Burma until democracy and human rights are restored.

Burma has been ruled by military dictatorship since 1962. The regime
prevented the democratically elected government from assuming office in
1990.
##

The American Association of Apparel and Footwear Manufacturers press release and statement can be found at http://www.apparelandfootwear.org

******************************

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Steve Lamar

703.797.9041

AAFA Announces Support For A Total Ban On U.S. Textiles, Apparel And Footwear Imports From Burma

ARLINGTON, VA - 15 April 2003 - American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) President & CEO Kevin M. Burke announced today that, due to the on-going cruel and repressive nature of the ruling regime in Burma, AAFA has called for an immediate and total ban on U.S. textiles, apparel and footwear imports from that nation.

"The government of Burma continues to abuse its citizens through force and intimidation, and refuses to respect the basic human rights of its people. AAFA believes this unacceptable behavior should be met with condemnation from not only the international public community, but from private industry as well," said Burke.

According to the U.S. government's 2002 Country Report on Human Rights
Practices on Burma, the Burmese government has "...continued to restrict
worker rights, ban unions, and use forced labor for public works and for the
support of military garrisons. Other forced labor, including child labor,
remain a serious problem despite recent ordinances outlawing the practice."

Additionally, in 2000, the International Labor Organization (ILO) - for the
first time in its history - called on all ILO members to impose sanctions on
Burma.

Burke continued, "AAFA, through its mission statement and trade policy,
promotes best practices to ensure that goods are produced in a socially
responsible manner by encouraging its members to operate under programs and in countries that are compliant with applicable labor and environmental laws. AAFA also encourages the U.S. and other governments, as well as foreign trade associations, to recognize and support programs that have been designed to achieve these goals, such as the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) program.

AAFA also recognizes and applauds the efforts of its own members that have already imposed bans on U.S. imports of Burmese textiles, apparel and footwear for their own firms, and applauds the efforts of numerous U.S. and international governmental and non-governmental organizations to force Burma to respect the basic human rights of its citizens.

To view AAFA's Burma Policy Statement, please go to AAFA's Web site..

###

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.