About the interview: Fashion is possible because of international trade. Each year, the global fashion industry generates more than $4 trillion USD and provides families with affordable clothing options. However, as fast fashion continues to grow, so does awareness of pressing issues such as labor standards and environmental sustainability. How are the United States and China involved in the global fashion industry? How can they collaborate on the issues facing the global fast fashion industry, from production to consumption?
Sheng Lu joins the National Committee to discuss how fast fashion is a global phenomenon and how the United States and China can address common areas of concern.
Learn more about the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR)
FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 
A concept from this month’s lecture that relates to this interview is “leveling the playing field” for American producers. To level the playing field, unfair trade practicies by trading partners must be stopped and necessary protection of the domestic import-competing industries must be provided. As stated in the interview, “the U.S. is one of the largest apparel consumption markets in the world.” The apparel that our trading partners produce depends on what our consumers want. As concerns of sustainability and how workers are being treated are being raised, how factories are treating their workers and the scientific-based environmental impact are pieces of information consumers are starting to demand. It will take consumers’ knowledge of unfair trade practices involved in fast fashion to push the faces behind brands to demand better from their trading partners. A managerial implication I would make if I were working for a fast fashion company and concerns for working conditions and the environment were being brought up, is enforcing increased factory audits to ensure that workers are being treated fairly. I would also ask that the EPA checks in on the carbon emissions of our manufacturers to limit negative environmental impacts that my company is contributing.