The garment and textile sector of Vietnam, a global export powerhouse, is currently at a critical strategic crossroads. Facing rapid shifts in international policies, market volatility, and increasingly stringent sustainability demands, the industry has officially recalibrated its development strategy to ensure long-term competitiveness.
Behind the clothing labels hanging in global storefronts lies a grim reality within Myanmar’s factories. Since the military seized power in a brutal coup in February 2021, the nation’s garment sector—once a beacon of economic hope—has been transformed into a high-risk environment "woven in fear."
For the first time in economic history, China’s trade surplus has breached the $1 trillion mark within the first eleven months of 2025. This milestone is not merely a numerical triumph for Beijing; it is a profound signal of a structural shift in the global economy that is heightening tensions from Washington to Brussels. The record surplus, which rose 3.6 percent year-on-year, uncovers a complex narrative of a nation that has mastered the art of high-tech production while simultaneously struggling to convince its own citizens to spend.
What began as a niche underground trade for budget-conscious shoppers has evolved into a national crisis that now threatens the very fabric of Indonesia’s economic and environmental health. Despite a formal ban on the importation of used clothing that has been in place since 2015, the country is currently witnessing a massive surge in the "thrifting" ecosystem. This phenomenon has created a profound dilemma for the government, as it struggles to balance the public's desire for affordable fashion against the devastating reality of a domestic textile industry that is rapidly being hollowed out by illegal competition.
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