The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has requested the U.S. and Vietnam governments to hurry up the distribution of vaccines to main suppliers of Adidas, Gap, and different manufacturers.
“We urge you to dramatically ramp up distribution of vaccines, together with America’s stockpile of AstraZeneca vaccines, to international locations like Vietnam now,” Steve Lamar, president, and CEO of the affiliation stated in a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden.
Rapid and dramatic motion by the U.S. won’t solely save hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide however might additionally promote America’s financial restoration, he added.
Vietnam is the second largest provider of attire, footwear, and journey items to the U.S., accounting for 20 p.c of all U.S. imports, he stated.
“For this reason the success of the U.S. attire and footwear business, and our three million American staff, is instantly depending on our suppliers’ worldwide, together with these in Vietnam, having wholesome workforces,” he wrote.
In a separate letter to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lamar urged that the Vietnamese authorities take “several key emergency actions to assist management the unfold of Covid-19, notably within the south, to thwart a rising humanitarian disaster.”
The U.S. has already supplied 5 million doses, however, the affiliation is advocating that the federal government provides extra on a pressing foundation, he stated.
Vietnam, notably southern localities, is experiencing an extreme Covid-19 wave that has recorded over 116,900 infections for the reason that finish of April, through which Ho Chi Minh Metropolis accounts for 66 p.c.
Main suppliers for international manufacturers like Adidas and Nike within the nation have shut down operations or working at restricted capability underneath strict social distancing orders.