just-style authors and correspondents

Biography

Dr Sheng Lu is an associate professor at the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware. With over 50 publications in academic and trade journals, Sheng’s research focuses on the economic and business aspects of the global soft-goods industry (textiles, apparel and related retailing), including international trade, trade policy and the governance of the global apparel value chain. Sheng received the 2014 Rising Star Award from the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) in recognition of his research and teaching excellence. He is also the recipient of the Paper of Distinction Award at the 2014, 2015 and 2017 ITAA annual conference for his study on the textile and apparel specific sectoral impact of mega free trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) and the Regional Comprehensive and Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Sheng received his PhD from the University of Missouri in Textile and Apparel Management in 2011. From 2009 to 2010, he worked with the US-China Business Council in Washington DC, conducting policy analysis and market research for US multinationals doing business with China.

Articles by Dr Sheng Lu

re:source monthly trade programme roundup – February 2019 12 March 2019

The latest monthly round-up of updates to key free trade agreements and trade preference programmes involving the US, EU and Japan covers developments in February 2019. Trade agreements, rules of origin, tariffs and schedules are all covered in depth in the re:source by just-style strategic planning tool.

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Timeline – Trump’s track record on trade – Update 7 February 2019

Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, his administration has been busy fulfilling major campaign promises on trade policy – much to the concern of US fashion brands and apparel retailers. To keep abreast of developments, Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, has compiled a timeline of all the key milestones.

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re:source monthly trade programme roundup – January 2019 5 February 2019

The latest monthly round-up of updates to key free trade agreements and trade preference programmes involving the US, EU and Canada covers developments in December 2018 and January 2019. Trade agreements, rules of origin, tariffs and schedules are all covered in depth in the re:source by just-style strategic planning tool.

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'Made in the USA' apparel – Who’s selling what and for how much? 1 February 2019

Anecdotal evidence suggests 'Made in the USA' clothing is growing in popularity – but there's little insight into who's selling it, what products are available, and the pricing strategy. In this detailed analysis, Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, crunches some numbers on the US retail market to find out more.

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Why tariff barriers remain a key challenge for apparel sourcing 29 January 2019

The average import tariff rate for clothing products worldwide stood at 17.0% in 2018 – almost twice as high as the rate for all manufactured goods combined. And as Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, explains, the costs and complexities pose major challenges for apparel sourcing. 

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re:source monthly trade programme roundup – November 2018 7 December 2018

The latest monthly round-up of updates to key free trade agreements and trade preference programmes involving the US, EU and Canada covers developments in November 2018. Trade agreements, rules of origin, tariffs and schedules are all covered in depth in the re:source by just-style strategic planning tool.

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How regional supply chains are shaping world textile and apparel trade 23 November 2018

Textiles and apparel are, without a doubt, global industries. However, analysis by Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, based on the re:source by just-style sourcing tool and data from UN Comtrade, suggests world textile and apparel trade is also becoming more regional. 

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re:source monthly trade programme roundup – October 2018 5 November 2018

The latest monthly round-up of updates to key free trade agreements and trade preference programmes involving the US, EU and Japan covers developments in October 2018. Trade agreements, rules of origin, tariffs and schedules are all covered in depth in the re:source by just-style strategic planning tool.

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re:source monthly trade programme roundup – September 2018 18 October 2018

The latest monthly round-up of updates to key free trade agreements and trade preference programmes involving the US, EU and Japan covers developments in September 2018. Trade agreements, rules of origin, tariffs and schedules are all covered in depth in the re:source by just-style strategic planning tool.

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Top trends in Canada’s apparel sourcing trade 16 October 2018

Canada is the world's fifth-largest apparel market, and one of its fastest growing importers. Here Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, rounds up the country's key sourcing patterns.