Sterlingwear of Boston Awarded $22.8 Million Contract for Afghanistan National Army Field Jackets

Sterlingwear of Boston Inc., East Boston, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $22,845,900 firm-fixed-price contract for Afghanistan National Army field jackets. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a one-year base contract. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a May 27, 2016, performance completion date. Using service is Afghanistan National Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2016 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-15-D-1057).

Brickle Group Awarded $29.3 Million Defense Beret Contract

The U.S. Defense Department has awarded The Brickle Group a $29.3 million contract to produce berets for American military personnel. ...READ MORE.

Customs Proposes to Reclassify and Lower Tariffs on Car Seat Covers

In nine binding ruling letters issued from 1995 through 2003, U.S. Customs classified automobile seat covers in heading 6304, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS"), as "other furnishing articles" with rates of duty ranging from 6.4% to 10.9%. In another ruling, in 2007, Customs classified an automobile seat cover in heading heading 6307, HTSUS, as an "other made up article of textile." The rate of duty was 7%.

Now Customs believes those rulings to be in error and proposes to revoke them. It is now Custom's position that the subject automobile seat covers are all classified in heading 8708, HTSUS, which provides for "Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705." The rate of duty is 2.5%

Comments are invited on the correctness of the proposed action. Comments are due on or before June 19, 2015.

U.S., Dominican Republic Sign Work Plan aimed at Mutual Customs Recognition

U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske and the Dominican Republic’s Director General ("DG") for Customs, Juan Fernando Fernández, signed a Joint Work Plan ("JWP") toward Mutual Recognition that allows stronger collaboration between CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism ("C-TPAT") and the Dominican Republic’s Authorized Economic Operator ("AEO") program. The signing was held during the CBP International Conference in Crystal City, Virginia. ... READ MORE.

CBP Seizes Fake Apparel Worth $48K

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport seized counterfeit Gucci, Burberry, Lacoste, Versace, Armani, Ferrari, Coco Chanel, Tory Burch and Michael Kors merchandise, May 13, valued at more than $48,000. ... http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2015-05-22-000000/cbp-seizes-fake-apparel-worth-48k.

Wet Wipe Manufacturer Agrees To Substantiate "Flushability" Advertising Claims under Settlement with FTC

Wet Wipe Manufacturer Agrees To Substantiate "Flushability" Advertising Claims under Settlement with FTC
Nice-Pak Products Were also Sold under Costco, CVS, and Target’s Private Labels

Under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Nice-Pak Products, Inc., a manufacturer of wet wipes, has agreed to stop advertising moist toilet tissue as flushable unless it can substantiate that the product is safe to flush. Similarly, Nice-Pak agreed to not claim that its moist toilet tissue is safe for sewer and septic tanks unless it has substantiation for those claims.

In addition, Nice-Pak will stop providing trade customers, such as retailers, with information to make such unsubstantiated claims. Costco, CVS, Target, and BJ’s Wholesale Club were Nice-Pak customers that sold the formulation of the company’s moist toilet tissue that was the subject of the complaint under their own private labels.

“The evidence didn’t back up Nice-Pak’s claims that their wipes were safe to flush,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “If you claim a product is flushable, it needs to flush in the real world, without clogging household plumbing or sewer and septic systems.”

According to the FTC’s complaint, Nice-Pak violated the FTC Act by misrepresenting that a certain formulation of its wipes: 1) are safe for sewer systems; 2) are safe for septic systems; 3) break apart shortly after being flushed; and 4) are safe to flush. The FTC also alleges Nice-Pak provided the means and instrumentalities for retailers and others that marketed the product under their own label to make similar misrepresentations. The company’s tests did not reflect, real world household plumbing or septic conditions, the FTC alleged.

The proposed administrative consent order settling the FTC charges prohibits Nice-Pak from misrepresenting that any wipe is safe to flush, unless it can substantiate that the wipe will disperse in a “sufficiently short amount of time” after flushing to prevent clogging and/or damage to household plumbing, sewage lines, septic systems, and other standard wastewater treatment equipment. The test must also replicate the physical conditions of the environment where the wipes will be disposed.

In addition, the proposed order prohibits Nice-Pak from making representations about the benefits, performance, or efficacy of moist toilet tissue, unless the statements are not misleading and the company relies on competent and reliable evidence, which in some instances must be competent and reliable scientific evidence, to support the claims made. The proposed order also prohibits Nice-Pak from providing the means and instrumentalities to anyone else to make the prohibited misrepresentations.

Defending Freedom at Home and Abroad

Monday, May 25th, is Memorial Day in the United States, a day set aside to remember and honor those who died in the service of the nation. Government offices and most business will be closed.

This Memorial Day we remember and honor those men and women in our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard who died in the line of duty protecting our American way of life. The Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund (http://www.massmilitaryheroes.org/) plans to plant thousands of flags on Boston Common in memory of our fallen Massachusetts service members. These flags will be on display throughout Memorial Day weekend for your observance and reflection.

While honoring our fallen heroes, many of us also plan to enjoy this three-day weekend at the beach, the Cape (Cod or Ann), with a picnic, or otherwise in rest and relaxation as we kick off summer in New England. That is also fitting, for surely the aim of war is to secure a safer, happier, more prosperous and freer life once peace has been restored.

Many speeches have been made through the centuries, memorializing those who died for country and freedom, here's an exempt from one of the most well known and imitated:

"...Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy..."--Pericles' Funeral Oration, 431 B.C.

So why the quotation from the dead past? Many agree that the ancient Athenian democracy was lost because of imperialistic expansionism and an unnecessary foreign war. The golden age of Athens --that flowering of democracy, art, literature, and philosophy-- came to a premature end with the ruinous 30-year war with neighboring Sparta. Some liberals and democrats today argue that America is, likewise, losing our Democracy at home in the prosecution of an ill-considered war of global military and business expansion.

Certainly there are some parallels. But equally certain, upon a more careful look, are the differences. The blame-America-first, cut-and-run crowd also saw parallels between the Peloponnesian War and the Cold War, but they were wrong. American freedom prevailed in that global conflict. And the demagogues in congress who demanded immediate withdrawal from Iraq (that sure worked out well) failed to note that the downfall of Athens was not Pericles' policy of strong Athenian military action against foreign threats. No, the destruction of Athens was Alcibiades, that calamity of a man, who thought that greatness consisted in following, not leading, public opinion.

Freedom is not free. This Memorial Day let us remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and honor them by committing ourselves to preserving American freedom in every way, big and small.

U.S. Industry Urges No Weakening of Berry Amendment

The American Apparel and Footwear Association joined nine other trade associations and Congressman Jim McGovern (Dem., Mass.) to introduce an amendment to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA") of 2016 so that Berry-compliant products would be protected. The original language in the bill would have increased the Simplified Acquisition Threshold ("SAT") from $150,000 to $500,000. The House on May 15, unanimously approved the AAFA-supported amendment, and approved the full NDAA legislation. The damaging language still exists in the Senate version passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 14. AAFA will continue to work with its partners to ensure the protection of Berry from all threats.

Army Corps of Engineers Sandbag and Poly Sheeting Contract Awarded

LAPAC Manufacturing Inc., Crowley, Louisiana, was awarded a $9,322,795 firm-fixed-price multi-year contract with options for sandbags and poly sheeting for the National Flood Fight Center, Rock Island, Illinois. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet with three received. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912EK-15-D-0003).

USITC Releases 6th Annual Report on U.S. Textile and Apparel Imports from China

The U.S. International Trade Commission ("USITC") today released its annual compilation of reports published every two weeks on textile and apparel imports from China.

New England Golf Outing & Banquet ~ Friday June 19, 2015

New England Golf Outing & Banquet ~ Friday June 19, 2015

Golf Outing
Cranston Country Club
69 Burlingame Road, Cranston, RI 02921 401 826 1683 directions www.cranstoncc.com Cranston CC strictly prohibits personal coolers and alcoholic beverages. Beverage cart is staffed by CCC
Registration 7:30am Shot Gun Start 8:00am

Dinner Banquet
Venus de Milo Restaurant
75 Grand Army Highway, Route 6, Swansea, MA 02777
Social Hour begins at 6:00 pm - Famous Grand Buffet Dinner 7:00 pm
Traditional Prize Giveaway – all attendees paid tickets handed in at reception table are entered in drawing

Be an individual or corporate sponsor
<$100 FRIEND OF NE AATCC
$100-499 GOLD
$500-799 PLATINUM – One (1) complimentary dinner ticket
$800+ PREMIER – Two (2) complimentary dinner tickets

Send below form completed with your check payable to: NEAATCC or the complete credit card information to be charges for the total amount.

Mail completed form below with payment to: Mary Reardon, Tweave LLC, 138 Barrows St, Norton, MA 02766

AATCC member name:____________________________ Company name:_____________________________ 
Email address:____________________________________ Phone #:__________________________________

        Subtotal Golf  $80 pp EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for registration received before June 1st
                                 $100 pp for registration received June 1st or after
                     rain or shine – includes Greens fees, Cart, Boxed Lunch, Practice Range balls  
         All Golfer’s names required:_____________________________________________________________

        Subtotal Meals - $49.00 pp Grand Buffet Dinner Banquet at Venus de Milo, Swansea, MA

       Total $ Enclosed Check #_____Or Credit Card type/number/expiration date/name on card_____________

Agathon Associates Helps Massachusetts Textile Company Obtain Designation as Foreign Trade Subzone

On May 15, 2015, the Foreign Trade Zone ("FTZ") Board published in the Federal Register (80 FR 27896) Approval of Subzone Status; Spectro Coating Corporation d/b/a Claremont Flock, LLC, Leominster, Massachusetts. Claremont is a producers of textile flock.

Pursuant to the FTZ Board regulations, the application was submitted by the grantee of the FTZ associated with the Port of Boston, the Massachusetts Port Authority. The application was drafted by Agathon Associates on behalf of client Claremont Flock LLC. In order to make use of the Subzone, Claremont must active the Subzone with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Boston. David Trumbull, Principal, Agathon Associates, is a Licensed Customs Broker and plans to partner with the Boston-based brokerage firm of BOC International to active Claremont's Subzone.

David Trumbull in China, Week of May 17th for Wool Conference

David Trumbull will be in Zhangjiagang, China, May 17-21, 2015, attending the 84th International Wool Textile Organization Congress.

Navy Boot Contract Awarded

Belleville Shoe Co., Mount Gilead, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $10,621,169 firm-fixed-price contract for safety boots. This was a competitive acquisition, and three responses were received. This is a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is North Carolina with a May 13, 2016, performance completion date. Using service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2016 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-15-D-1051).

Commission Publishes Updated EU Proposal on Regulatory Cooperation in T-TIP Negotiations

On May 4, 2015, the Commission published the updated EU textual proposal on regulatory cooperation, following the 9th round of negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("T-TIP").

Burlington Awarded Two Army Poly/Wool Fabric Contracts

Burlington Apparel, Greensboro, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $19,788,000 modification (P00107) exercising the second option period on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1052) with four one-year option periods. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for Army poly/wool cloth. Burlington Apparel has also been awarded a maximum $13,834,800 modification (P00108) exercising the second option period on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1051) with four one-year option periods. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for Army poly/wool cloth. Location of performance is North Carolina with a May 12, 2016, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Customs Proposes to Revoke Ruling Relating to Flock Fiber

In a September 29, 2006, Binding Ruling Letter (NY R04929) addressed to Marubeni America Corporation of New York, New York, U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") determined that certain Japanese origin polyvinyl alcohol fibers chopped into lengths not exceeding 5 mm were classified at 5503.90.9000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS"), which provides for synthetic staple fibers, not carded, combed, or otherwise processed for spinning, with a rate of duty of 4.3%. CBP now proposes to revoke that ruling. While Chapter 55 generally provides for man made staple fibers, textile fibers of 5mm or less are classified in heading 5601, HTSUS, pursuant to the text of heading 5601, HTSUS, and the Explanatory Notes to Chapter 55. The proposed new classification is 5601.30.00, "Textile flock and dust and mill neps ..." The rate of duty is zero. Comments must be received on or before June 5, 2015.