The government of Rwanda says it plans to impose a 100% duty on imported clothing and textile in an effort to protect its domestic industry. The move was primarily driven by the country’s only textile mill, Utexrwa, which claims that imports from neighboring countries have cut their production in half. (The East African)

Sri Lanka’s garment sector could greatly benefit from the ongoing exodus of manufacturing from China, according to a leading international economist. Speaking at the recent Sri Lanka Economic Forum, University of Warwick professor Christopher Woodruff said that many apparel companies are seeking alternatives to China as their cost of doing business increases, and while Sri

U.S. President Barack Obama urged members of Congress to approve the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement during his recent State of the Union address. Mr. Obama noted that the TPP would open additional overseas markets for U.S. goods and help the U.S. compete with other major economic powers like China, who so far has not

The World Bank says that Vietnam’s government needs to focus on bolstering its private sector logistics, including freight transportation, to accommodate changes in its growing economy. A new report issued by the bank says that “systemic engagement” by the government with private logistics providers can greatly boost trade competitiveness and that these very providers are

Leaders from Bangladesh say that they plan to push the United States and other developed nations to grant duty-free access to their garment exports during the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) summit. The country’s Commerce Minister notes that Bangladesh is one of the largest duty payers to the United States and that garment exports have

At least 370 workers among 7 different Cambodian factories, including some garment factories, fainted while on the job between November 19 and 20. Officials say that all of the factories were located in a single Special Economic Zone near Phnom Penh and that the likely cause of the episode was pesticide being sprayed on nearby

A new study from the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) says that the country’s export competitiveness has been eroded by the real appreciating value of the rupee. The study says that a rupee devaluation of 10-15% against the Euro would provide a “shot in the arm” for exports, though it also notes that

Spanish denim company Jeanologia says it has eliminated potassium permanganate (PP) from its production process. PP is a substance most commonly used to create the appearance of wear on new jeans, though it has also been blamed for causing respiratory issues in the workers who apply it. The company now says that its production cycle

Leaders in Sri Lanka’s garment industry say they are pushing for a five-fold increase in the country’s garment exports by 2020. Speaking at a recent trade event in Colombo, the country’s Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade noted that they hope to increase Sri Lankan garment exports to US$50 billion by the year 2020.

Vietnam’s Industry and Trade Minister says that the country is prepared to make the most of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. During a recent conference, minister Vu Huy Hoang noted that the TPP would give Vietnam an opportunity to enhance its domestic production capacity for products all along the supply chain. Vietnam is widely