FASH455 Speaker Series

Spring 2024

David Spooner, former U.S. Chief Textile Negotiator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce kindly joined FASH455 in April 2024 as a guest speaker. During the event, David shared his great insights about the latest policy trends related to US apparel sourcing from the Western Hemisphere and the ongoing US-China trade tension and its implications for US fashion brands and retailers.

As Chief Textile Negotiator at the U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR), David was a principal negotiator for free trade agreements with Central America, Singapore, Australia, Chile, Panama, Bahrain, Colombia, and Peru, principally negotiating the apparel and textile chapter, rules of origin and safeguard measures.

Students in FASH455 had a unique and exciting “meet the press” event with Kate Nishimura, Senior News & Features Editor of Sourcing Journal (SJ). Kate covers fashion and retail supply chain at SJ, with expertise in trade, manufacturing, sustainability, material innovation, politics, technology and other issues impacting the sector.

During the live dialogue, Kate shared her firsthand insights about the growing popularity of near-shoring from the Western Hemisphere, the competitiveness of countries in the region—such as those in CAFTA-DR—as sourcing bases for US fashion companies, and the related trade policy debate.

Nina Perry, Sourcing Manager at Talbots, met with students in FASH455 and provided valuable insights about apparel sourcing process, current issues related to apparel sourcing (e.g., Red Sea crisis) and souring career preparation. With eight years of experience in the retail apparel industry, Nina currently manages the T By Talbots product category at Talbots, responsible for quality standards, achieving margin goals, building and maintaining relationships with vendors as well as mitigating risk/securing on time delivery. While spending the entirety of her career at Talbots so far – she has worked in multiple divisions – including the core and outlet lines as well as Haven Well Within. In these different divisions, she has had the opportunity to gain experience in many product categories from sweaters, knits to wovens as well as intimates and some home product. In her free time, Nina plays the cello in a local community orchestra, loves to read and go on walks with her Great Pyrenees named Winnie.

Fall 2023

Natalie Hanson, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles, talked to students in FASH455 about US textile and apparel trade policy. During the dialogue, Natalie shared her first-hand insights about US trade agreements and their critical roles in supporting nearshoring and the Western Hemisphere textile and apparel supply chain. As one of the leading US trade policymakers for the textile sector, Natalie Hanson supports the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles in their duties to conduct and oversee trade negotiations related to textile and apparel products. Ms. Hanson also serves as a subject matter expert and provides input on trade policy matters related to the textile and apparel sector. Prior to joining the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Ms. Hanson worked at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in the Office of Industries with a focus on the textile and apparel industry, and served in a handful of positions for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Michael Lambert, Executive Director of Global Trade and Compliance from URBN Inc., talked to FASH455 students about the latest US apparel sourcing trends, fashion companies’ sourcing factors, and their efforts to improve sustainable and socially responsible apparel sourcing. In the Q&A session, students also asked questions about the impact of technology and career preparation in the sourcing area. Michael has spent over 30 years in the retail fashion business, primarily in the import/export and Customs compliance area. At URBN, Michael is responsible for Customs, Social, Vendor and Regulatory Compliance. Urban Outfitters has a global footprint, with stores in the U.S., Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom.  Urban Outfitters designs and develops product throughout the world, working with a core vendor base across more than thirty countries. Prior to Urban Outfitters, Michael spent nine years with Limited Brands as head of their Import Planning department.  He spent his last two years with Limited Brands in London, setting up Compliance activity for Limited Brands as they expanded overseas. 

Spring 2023

Patrick Fox, Senior Director, Customs and Trade Strategy with VF Corporation, and his two colleagues, Kevin Irish (Customs compliance manager) and Shanel Orton (Director of Responsible Material and traceability), kindly talked to FASH455 students about VF’s latest trade strategies and sourcing trends. Students enjoyed first-hand insights and real-world examples from the expert panel about fashion companies’ sourcing strategies, utilization of trade agreements, and opportunities to make the supply chain more transparent.

The US Department of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) leadership team and core members kindly offered another exciting learning opportunity for students in FASH455. Maria, Richard, Linda, and Thomas discussed the latest US textile and apparel manufacturing development trends, the Western Hemisphere supply chain, and OTEXA’s expanded “made in the USA” sourcing directory program. Students were also excited to learn about OTEXA’s sustainability initiatives and the huge economic and trade opportunities in building a circular textile and apparel industry.

Laura Husband serves as the Managing Editor of Just-Style, a leading digital publication focusing on news and insights in the global fashion apparel industry, particularly supply chain, apparel trade, and sourcing-related issues. Laura leads Just-Style’s team with more than 20 years of industry experience. She is also a regular speaker for international textile and apparel sourcing events. In a live discussion with FASH455 students, Laura shared her first-hand insights about the current hot-button issues in the global apparel industry. Laura also discussed the latest development trends in the Bangladeshi garment industry from her recent trip to the country and interacting with industry leaders there.

Spring 2022

Students in FASH455 had an engaging conversation about building a sustainable fashion apparel supply chain with Laurie Rando, Senior Director of Sustainability at Macy’s. Laurie shared her valuable insights about the latest sustainability practices in the fashion industry, the outlook of fashion circularity, and sustainability-related career opportunities with students. At Macy’s, Laurie is in charge of sustainability-related operations, including transparency, product responsibility and supply chain management, energy management, diversity and inclusion, and building resilient communities.

Students in FASH455 were pleased to welcome back Bill Jackson, Assistant US Trade Representative for Textiles. Bill shared his great insights about the latest U.S. apparel sourcing trends from CAFTA-DR members and expanding U.S. apparel sourcing from the region during the live discussion.

Fall 2021

Students in FASH455 were fortunate to have a highly informative and inspiring live discussion with the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) leadership team at the US Department of Commerce. Maria, Richard, and Kim provided students with unique insights about COVID-19’s impacts on the US textile and apparel industry, the latest trends of near sourcing from the Western Hemisphere, the Biden administration’s trade policy agenda, and OTEXA’s new made in the USA sourcing directory program. In addition, FASH455 students asked questions about sustainability and the future of textiles and apparel “Made in the USA.”

Students in FASH455 had a great discussion about US apparel sourcing and trade with Beth Hughes, Vice President of Trade and Customs at the American Apparel and Footwear Association. At AAFA, Beth Hughes supports the association’s efforts on international trade and customs issues. Beth oversees AAFA’s Trade Policy Committee, as well as AAFA’s Customs Group. During the event, Beth shared her insightful observations and analysis of US fashion companies’ latest sourcing trends amid the pandemic, the Biden administration’s China trade policy, and the industry’s joint efforts to expand apparel sourcing and investments in the Western Hemisphere.

Students in FASH455 had an exciting live dialogue with Laurie Sutandar, Vice President of Global Sourcing at Party City. Laurie shared with students her insights about the latest sourcing trends and the impacts of COVID-19, and the shipping crisis on companies’ sourcing strategies. Students also asked questions about fashion companies’ latest sustainability efforts. Before joining Party City, Laurie served as the Vice President of U.S. Sourcing for JCPenney Corporation.

Spring 2021

Students in FASH455 had a great live discussion about managing global apparel souring and trade with Michael Singer, former VP of Customs and Social Compliance at Macy’s. Michael shared with the students his insights about US fashion companies’ latest sourcing trends, primary sourcing factors, and opportunities in the post-COVID world. Michael joined Macy’s in 1983 and has extensive experience in customs, social compliance, environmental, and logistics issues. Michael also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) from 2016 to 2020.

Students had a great discussion with Bill Jackson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles (2016—present) about free trade agreements and the U.S. textile and apparel industry. During the event, Bill shared with students his insights about the impact of USMCA (NAFTA) and CAFTA-DR on the U.S. textile and apparel industry and how to strengthen textile and apparel production in the Western Hemisphere.

As the top U.S. trade official for textile and apparel issues, Bill is responsible for conducting and overseeing negotiations affecting textile and apparel products, advising the U.S. Trade Representative on textile and apparel trade policy matters, and working to expand the industry’s access to foreign markets. He was the lead U.S. negotiator on market access for textiles and apparel during the last several months of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement negotiations in 2015. Mr. Jackson served as Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade preference program from 2010 to 2016 and Director for African Affairs at the U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR) from 2002 to 2010, during which he worked on a wide variety of U.S.-African trade and investment issues, including administration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program.

Fall 2020

Students in FASH455 had an exciting live Zoom discussion with David Spooner, former U.S. Chief Textile Negotiator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce. As Chief Textile Negotiator at the U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR), David was a principal negotiator for free trade agreements with Central America, Singapore, Australia, Chile, Panama, Bahrain, Colombia, and Peru, principally negotiating the apparel and textile chapter, rules of origin and safeguard measures.

During the event, David shared his insights about the textile and apparel provisions in U.S. free trade agreements, the implications of “rules of the game” for U.S. textile and apparel companies’ business operations and the outlook of US trade policy agendas in 2021.

Students in FASH455 had an exciting discussion about sustainability and compliance issues related to apparel souring and trade with Sveta Morris, Senior Manager of Global Policy and Advocacy at Levi Strauss & Co. At Levi’s, Sveta covers a social portfolio of policy issues, which include human rights, labor rights and gender equity. She works on her portfolio in three domains: supply chain, internal corporate policies and public policy advocacy. She works closely with internal partners from the Sustainability, Sourcing, Legal and Levi Strauss Foundation teams. Before Levi Strauss & Co., Sveta worked on external engagement and policy at Apple. At Apple, her work primarily focused on human rights in supply chain, which spanned multiple tiers from direct suppliers to raw materials sourcing. Sveta served at several multi-stakeholder groups where representatives from various industries, civil society and government worked on moving the needle on complex challenges such as conflict minerals sourcing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Before Apple, Sveta worked at the International Finance Corporation, which is part of the World Bank Group. She helped launch on an innovative supplier financing program that offered lower rates for working capital loans to suppliers with better social and environmental performance, thus incentivizing them to do better.

Spring 2020

Students in FASH455 were pleased to have Bob Kirke, Executive Director of the Canadian Apparel Federation as a guest speaker. Bob shared with the class his insightful observations about the latest development trend of the Western Hemisphere textile and apparel supply chain and the sectoral impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA or NAFTA 2.0).

The leadership team of the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) under the U.S. Department of Commerce (https://otexa.trade.gov/) provided FASH455 students with an exclusive overview of the state of the US textile industry, including the latest trends of US textile and apparel trade; the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA); pending US trade negotiations with the UK and Kenya, as well as the latest US textile and apparel industry initiatives in response to Covid19. The panelists include:

• Maria D’Andrea, Director of OTEXA
• Richard Stetson, Deputy Director of OTEXA
• Kim-Bang Nguyen, Director of Export Promotion, OTEXA

Students in FASH455 enjoyed an exciting live dialogue with Laurie Sutandar, Vice President of U.S. Sourcing, JCPenney Corporation. Based on her 30+ years of experiences as a sourcing executive, Laurie shared her insightful observations and first-hand stories of U.S. fashion apparel companies’ sourcing models, the selection of sourcing destination, emerging sourcing trends, and the impact of COVID-19 on U.S. fashion companies’ sourcing strategies.

Fall 2019

A distinguished industry panel visited FASH455 and shared their insights about the latest trends in apparel sourcing, impacts of the U.S.-China tariff war and how to create a more sustainable cotton apparel supply chain. The panelists include:

Julia K. Hughes, President, United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA).  USFIA represents textile and apparel brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally. Founded in 1989 as the United States Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel with the goal of eliminating the global apparel quota system, USFIA now works to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede the industry’s ability to trade freely and create economic opportunities in the United States and abroad. Ms. Hughes represents the fashion industry in front of the U.S. government and international governments and stakeholders. Ms. Hughes has testified before Congress and the Executive Branch on textile trade issues. She is recognized as an expert in textile and apparel issues and frequently speaks at international conferences including the Apparel Sourcing Show, MAGIC, Foreign Service Institute, National Association of Manufacturers, Cotton Sourcing Summit, International Textiles and Clothing Bureau, Young Presidents’ Organization, World Trade Organization Beijing International Forum, and others.  

Robert P. Antoshak, Managing Director, Olah Inc. As Managing Director of Olah Inc., Mr. Antoshak supervises the firm’s global cotton marketing and consulting programs.  Mr. Antoshak has more than 30 years of experience in the fiber and textile industries. He has held positions with the Fiber Economics Bureau as editor of the Fiber Organon, American Fiber Manufacturers Association as Director of International Trade, American Textile Manufacturers as Associate Director of International Trade, Trade Resources, Inc., as President, Werner International as Vice President. Most recently Mr. Antoshak was Managing Director of the Fibers & Textiles Division of FCStone, LLC. In addition to an extensive background in fiber and textile marketing, market research, strategic planning and forecasting, Mr. Antoshak has substantial experience in trade negotiations and worked as an industry advisor to the U.S. government on numerous bilateral quota trade agreements, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) the Multi-fiber Arrangement (MFA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Jennifer Pisula, Senior Product Development and Production Coordinator, URBN Inc. Ms. Pisula has over ten years of experience in the fashion apparel industry, holding various roles in retail management, buying for apparel & accessories, and textile conservation. She currently serves as the Senior Product Development and Production Coordinator for Free People Movement under the sourcing department at URBN Inc. From 2013 to 2018, Ms. Pisula worked for QVC as an assistant buyer and assistant sourcing specialist. 

Students in FASH455 had an exciting and informative live discussion with Sara Beatty, Executive Vice President of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) regarding the state of the U.S. textile industry, the western hemisphere supply chain and updates for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA or NAFTA2.0). Sara has worked in government relations advocating for the domestic textile industry since 2003. She previously held the position of Vice President of International Trade at the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition.

FASH455 students had an exciting and informative live discussion with Avedis Seferian, President & CEO of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) on the latest development trend of social responsibility practices in the garment industry. During the event, Avedis shared with students his insightful views and first-hand observations about the changes in the Bangladeshi garment industry six years after the Rana Plaza tragedy, the work of Accord and the Alliance, the social auditing practices and the unexpected impacts of the U.S.-China tariff war on social compliance risks involved in apparel sourcing.

Avedis Seferian joined WRAP in 2004 and was named President & CEO in 2012. He has extensive knowledge of social responsibility issues within the highly complex worldwide supply chains of the apparel, textile, and footwear sectors. A recognized expert in the area of social compliance and responsible sourcing, he often speaks on topics in this field at different forums around the world and has contributed to many leading trade publications and news outlets. Mr. Seferian serves on the Board of Advisors of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, is the Chairman of the Executive Board (and a member of the Stakeholder Board) of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA) and sits on the Impartiality Committees of several audit organizations.

Spring 2019

Students in FASH455 had an exciting Skype discussion on footwear sourcing and U.S. trade policy & politics with Matt Priest, President of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA). Before joining FDRA in February 2009, Mr. Priest served as Senior Advisor to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel at the U.S. Department of Commerce. As deputy assistant secretary, he oversaw programs and strategies to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of the U.S. footwear, fiber, textiles, and apparel industries.  Mr. Priest was also Chairman of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), which determines when market-disrupting factors exist in the domestic fiber, textiles and apparel marketplace. Mr. Priest is also featured in the well-known book the Travels of a T-shirt in the global economy.

Students in FASH455 were excited to have Anna Walker, Senior Director of Global Policy and Advocacy at Levi Strauss & Co. join the class as a guest speaker. Anna shared her insightful observations and first-hand stories of U.S. fashion apparel companies’ evolving sourcing strategies, the latest sourcing trends and the impact of rules of origin on companies’ sourcing decisions. Anna also shared her valuable advice about career preparations for the fashion industry.

The FASH455 class had an exciting dialogue with Erin Ennis, Senior Vice President of the US-China Business Council (USCBC) on the business impacts of the U.S. section 301 action against China and the state of the U.S.-China commercial relations. Erin Ennis has been Senior Vice President of USCBC since February 2015, after serving as Vice President since 2005. In that position, she directs USCBC’s government affairs and advocacy work for member companies and oversees USCBC’s Business Advisory Services.

Before joining USCBC, Ms. Ennis worked at Kissinger McLarty Associates, the international consulting firm headed by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former White House Chief of Staff Thomas “Mack” McLarty.  Ms. Ennis also held several positions in the US Government. From 1992 to 1996, Ms. Ennis was a legislative aide to former U.S. Senator John Breaux, working on international trade and commerce. At the Office of the US Trade Representative from 1996 to 2000, Ms. Ennis first worked in Congressional Affairs on Asia issues, including annual approvals of China’s most favored nation status and the ill-fated 1997 push to renew presidential “fast track” negotiating authority. Beginning in 1998, she was assistant to Deputy US Trade Representative Richard Fisher, who led US trade negotiations and enforcement with Asia, the Americas, and on intellectual property rights.

Fall 2018

Students in FASH455 were excited to have Laurie Sutandar, Vice President of U.S. Sourcing, JCPenney Corporation join the class as a guest speaker. Based on her 30+ years of experiences as sourcing executive, Laurie shared her insightful observations and first-hand stories of U.S. fashion apparel companies’ sourcing models, the selection of sourcing destination, emerging sourcing trends, and the impact of trade policy on the future landscape of apparel sourcing. Laurie also shared her valuable advice about sourcing-related career preparations.

Students in FASH455 had a unique opportunity hearing from Bill Jackson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles (2016—present) about the textile and apparel provisions in NAFTA 2.0 (or newly called the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement, USMCA). As the top U.S. trade official for textile and apparel issues, Bill is responsible for conducting and overseeing negotiations affecting textile and apparel products, advising the U.S. Trade Representative on textile and apparel trade policy matters, and working to expand the industry’s access to foreign markets. He was the lead U.S. negotiator on market access for textiles and apparel during the last several months of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement negotiations in 2015. Mr. Jackson served as Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade preference program from 2010 to 2016 and Director for African Affairs at the U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR) from 2002 to 2010, during which he worked on a wide variety of U.S.-African trade and investment issues, including administration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program.

Spring 2018

Students in FASH455 had an exciting live discussion on the NAFTA renegotiation and the U.S. textile and apparel industry with Joshua Teitelbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Textiles (2014-2016). While serving as one of the top U.S. trade policymakers for the textile and apparel industry in the Obama Administration, Mr. Teitelbaum made substantial contributions to the development of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), among other multilateral, regional and bilateral trade initiatives. Mr. Teitelbaum also served as the chairman of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), which supervises the negotiation and implementation of U.S. textile trade agreements. Mr. Teitelbaum received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 2008 and his B.S. from Cornell University in 2005.

During the event, Mr. Teitelbaum shared his insightful views about the Trump Administration’s motivation of launching the NAFTA renegotiation, the debate on the yarn-forward rules of origin and exceptions (e.g., tariff preference level) and the industry implications of rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

tudents were excited to have Nate Herman, Senior Vice President of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) as a guest speaker for FASH455. Nate Herman oversees AAFA’s government relations department, managing the association’s trade policy, and regulatory affairs activities. Nate leads AAFA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, formulating and implementing CSR policy and representing AAFA and the industry on CSR issues before governments, NGOs, and other key stakeholders. Nate also leads the association’s work on sustainability, transportation, logistics, and customs issues. In addition, Nate develops all apparel and footwear industry data and statistics as AAFA’s resident economist. Prior to joining AAFA, Nate worked for six years at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration assisting U.S. firms in entering the global market. Nate spent the last two years as the Department’s industry analyst for the footwear and travel goods industries.

During the event, Nate shared with his insightful views of the global nature of today’s apparel industry, U.S. fashion brands and apparel retailers’ sourcing strategy and critical trade policy issues that matter significantly to the apparel sector, including tariff barriers, NAFTA renegotiation, renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and implications of the 232 trade investigation.

 Fall 2017

The FASH455 class had an exciting dialogue with Ambassador Friedrich Loehr, former Consul General of Germany in Boston (2008-2012) on foreign policy in the Trump era. Ambassador Loehr is a career officer in the German diplomatic service. He was Ambassador to North Korea from 2005 to 2007 and Deputy Chief of Mission in Beijing, China form 2002 to 2005. He has held a number of distinguished German Foreign Office posts, including Minister-Counselor of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament; Adviser to the Policy Planning Group of the CDU/CSU party at the Bundestag; and Deputy Director of European Political Affairs in the Chancellor’s office. He has served overseas in German embassies in Algeria, Sudan, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Serbia. He also represented Germany in international organizations including the United Nations and the European Union. Ambassador Loehr is currently on the faculty at Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies is a former fellow of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard.

During the event, Ambassador Loehr shared his insightful views on the anti-globalization movement, the impact of Brexit on the future of the European Union and US-EU partnership, implications of a rising China to the world, Trump administration’s foreign policy agendas and some other current world affairs.

Students in FASH455 were honored to have Ron Katanick, Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, Kohl’s Department Stores join the class as a guest speaker. Based on his 20+ years of industry experiences, Ron shared his insightful observations and first-hand stories of U.S. fashion apparel companies’ sourcing model, the selection of sourcing destination, emerging sourcing trends, and future landscape of apparel sourcing. During the Q&A session, students asked questions about the outlook of apparel “Made in the USA,” sourcing related career opportunities, and other current events in the U.S. apparel industry.

Students in FASH455 had an exciting discussion with Ryan Ong, Director for International Economic Affairs Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Ryan shared his views on the state of the U.S. manufacturing sector and international trade, the debate regarding the U.S. trade deficit, and how trade policy can promote robust manufacturing in the United States. During the Q&A session, students also raised questions about the impact of Brexit, U.S.-China trade relations and the future of textile and apparel manufacturing in the United States.

Spring 2017

Gail Strickler, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles (2009-2015), who negotiated the textile chapter under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), visited FASH455 and had a special discussion session with students on topics ranging from the textile and apparel rules of origin in TPP, NAFTA renegotiation, AGOA renewal and state of the U.S. textile and apparel industry. Gail also delivered a public lecture on The Global Apparel Industry – Style and Substance as part of the Fashion and Diplomacy Lecture Series sponsored by the Institute for Global Studies and the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies.

Students in FASH455 had a unique opportunity discussing trade agreement and the U.S. textile and apparel industry with Bill Jackson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles (2016—present). As the top U.S. trade official for textile and apparel issues, Bill is responsible for conducting and overseeing negotiations affecting textile and apparel products, advising the U.S. Trade Representative on textile and apparel trade policy matters, and working to expand the industry’s access to foreign markets. He was the lead U.S. negotiator on market access for textiles and apparel during the last several months of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement negotiations in 2015. Mr. Jackson served as Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade preference program from 2010 to 2016 and Director for African Affairs at the U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR) from 2002 to 2010, during which he worked on a wide variety of U.S.-African trade and investment issues, including administration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program.

Fall 2016

Students in FASH455 were very honored to have the great opportunity discussing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and its implications for the global textile and apparel industry with Gail Strickler, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles (2009-2015). As the top U.S. trade policymaker for textiles, Ms. Strickler supervised the negotiations of the textile and apparel chapter in TPP as well as other important trade agreements affecting textile and apparel products. She also advised US Trade Representative, including Ambassador Ron Kirk and Ambassador Michael Froman, on textile and apparel trade policy matters and worked to expand the industry’s access to foreign markets. Prior to joining the U.S. Trade Representative Office, Ms. Strickler worked for Saxon Textile Corp from 1980 to 2007 serving ultimately as its President and CEO until it was acquired by Patriarch Group in 2007 and became a division of Duro Textile LLC., where she served as Vice President of the Global Apparel Division.  Ms. Strickler also served as the Assoc. Director of the Institute for Textile and Apparel Product Safety (I.T.A.P.S.) at Philadelphia University and president of the Textiles Distributors Association. She further served on the board of directors of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) from its inception in 2004-2006 as a member of its Trade Policy committee. She was a board member for the USDA Cotton Board from 2002 to 2009, serving as Chairman of the Textile Research Committee. She has served on the board of directors at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Education Foundation since 2004 and its executive committee from 2006 to 2009.

Students in FASH455 had a great dialogue with Maureen Gray, Vice President of International Trade, Ralph Lauren Corporation (2011-2016) on global sourcing strategies of US fashion apparel companies. As VP of International Trade, Maureen Gray champions Ralph Lauren’s Customs and trade issues. Maureen Gray is also a strong voice for the U.S. apparel industry during the negotiating of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. As commented by Kim Glas, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance and former deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods and materials at the Commerce Department, “Maureen Gray brought a lot of industry know-how to the [TPP] negotiations, from understanding supply chains and understanding the incentives to help move or shift supply chains. Her knowledge of Customs enforcement was critical through the negotiations.” From 2011 to June 2016, Maureen also served as the chairman of the U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA). 

Spring 2016

Students in FASH455 had a unique opportunity Skyping with David Spooner, former U.S. Chief Textile Negotiator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce. As Chief Textile Negotiator at the U.S. Trade Representative Office, David was a principal negotiator for free trade agreements with Central America, Singapore, Australia, Chile, Panama, Bahrain, Colombia and Peru, principally negotiating the apparel and textile chapter, rules of origin and safeguard measures. In the Commerce Department, Mr. Spooner led U.S. Government enforcement of trade remedy laws, principally the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy laws. He administered the Foreign Trade Zone system; oversaw apparel trade policy and the implementation of laws governing trade in apparel; managed trade remedy negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as dispute resolution proceedings at the WTO; chaired U.S.-China talks on macroeconomic reforms and the steel industry; and supervised the US Department of Commerce’s import safety initiatives.