United States

Victims of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh have filed a federal lawsuit against 3 major retailers and the government of Bangladesh claiming that all of these parties knew of the unsafe conditions in the Rana Plaza building before it collapsed, yet they failed to act. Along with the government of Bangladesh, the suit alleges that J.C.Penny, The Children’s Place, and Wal-Mart all either knew or should have known that the Rana Plaza building was unfit for occupancy and that they failed to take proper measures to ensure “safe and healthy” working conditions. So far, all parties named as defendants have refused to publicly comment on the suit. (The Daily Star) / (Daily News)
 
Two U.S. Senators have introduced a bill designed to lower or eliminate tariffs on recreational outdoor apparel and help boost America’s outdoor economy. Senators Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Maria Cantwell of Washington have both released statements praising the measure, saying it would modernize what is seen as an outdated tariff structure and help lower costs for consumers. They also say the bill would help boost the burgeoning outdoor recreational economy present in several states across the country. (Fibre2Fashion)
 
The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) has partnered with the British Footwear Assocaition (BFA) to form a trans-Atlantic partnership to increase trade between Britain and the United States. In order to reach this goal, the two groups have agreed to share market data, regulatory insights, and customs updates to keep footwear designers and industry professionals better informed. In a statement, the FDRA noted that the partnership was spurred by a meeting between the two groups seeking clarity on production matters. (Footwear News)