Terms of Service

Welcome to The Trade Thread. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of The Trade Thread, including its website, Substack publication, emails, paid subscriptions, articles, research, analysis, and other content and services (collectively, the “Service”).

By accessing, subscribing to, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use or subscribe to the Service.

1. About The Trade Thread

The Trade Thread is an independently operated publication providing informational and analytical content concerning U.S. apparel and textile trade, imports, tariffs, customs, sourcing, supply chains, trade policy, and related subjects.

The Trade Thread is a publication and information service. It is not a law firm, customs brokerage, accounting firm, tax advisory firm, financial advisory firm, investment advisory firm, procurement consultancy, or other professional advisory service.

2. Informational Purposes Only

All content published by The Trade Thread is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes.

Nothing published by The Trade Thread constitutes or is intended to constitute legal, customs, tariff, tax, accounting, financial, investment, procurement, sourcing, compliance, regulatory, or other professional advice.

The Trade Thread does not provide individualized advice concerning the classification, valuation, country of origin, admissibility, tariff treatment, duty liability, customs entry, trade compliance, sourcing decision, procurement decision, or other treatment of any particular product, shipment, transaction, company, importer, exporter, or business.

Information published by The Trade Thread should not be treated as a substitute for advice from a qualified customs broker, attorney, accountant, tax professional, government agency, or other appropriately qualified professional.

3. No Reliance

You are solely responsible for determining whether and how information published by The Trade Thread applies to your particular circumstances.

Before taking action based on information published by The Trade Thread, you should independently verify relevant information with the applicable government agency, primary source, customs broker, attorney, accountant, or other qualified professional.

The Trade Thread does not guarantee that information concerning a particular product, country, tariff classification, trade measure, customs treatment, or transaction applies to your specific circumstances.

Trade laws, regulations, tariffs, duties, classifications, enforcement policies, trade agreements, government guidance, and customs procedures may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of a particular transaction.

4. Trade and Regulatory Information May Change

Trade and customs information can change rapidly.

Tariffs, duties, trade restrictions, classifications, enforcement policies, government guidance, trade agreements, deadlines, effective dates, and other regulatory or commercial information discussed by The Trade Thread may be amended, withdrawn, delayed, superseded, or otherwise changed at any time.

Information that was accurate or current when published may subsequently become outdated, incomplete, superseded, or inapplicable.

The Trade Thread does not undertake an obligation to update previously published content whenever circumstances change.

5. Accuracy and Completeness

The Trade Thread makes reasonable efforts to research, verify, and present information accurately and clearly.

However, The Trade Thread does not warrant or guarantee that any content is accurate, complete, current, error-free, reliable, or suitable for any particular purpose.

The Service may contain typographical errors, omissions, inaccuracies, outdated information, misunderstandings, or other errors.

The Trade Thread may rely on information obtained from government agencies, public records, industry organizations, news organizations, databases, companies, researchers, and other third parties. The Trade Thread does not independently guarantee the accuracy or completeness of all information supplied by such sources.

If an error is identified, The Trade Thread may correct or update the relevant content at its discretion.

6. Sources and Third-Party Information

The Trade Thread may link to, quote, summarize, analyze, or otherwise reference third-party materials, including government websites, government documents, databases, publications, news organizations, industry associations, companies, research organizations, and other sources.

Third-party sources are provided for informational and reference purposes. Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or guarantee by The Trade Thread.

The Trade Thread does not control and is not responsible for the accuracy, availability, security, content, policies, or continued accessibility of third-party websites, services, or materials.

A link to or reference to a third-party source does not mean that The Trade Thread adopts every statement, opinion, conclusion, or position contained in that source.

7. Business and Sourcing Decisions

You acknowledge that business, sourcing, procurement, importation, exportation, customs, compliance, and supply-chain decisions involve financial and operational risks.

You are solely responsible for your own business decisions and for determining the appropriate actions for your business.

The Trade Thread does not guarantee that use of the Service will reduce costs, prevent losses, improve sourcing outcomes, identify every relevant development, prevent customs problems, or produce any particular business result.

The Trade Thread is not responsible for decisions made or actions taken by you or any other person based on information published through the Service.

8. No Professional or Fiduciary Relationship

Your use of or subscription to The Trade Thread does not create an attorney-client, customs broker-client, accountant-client, tax adviser-client, financial adviser-client, fiduciary, consultant-client, or other professional relationship between you and The Trade Thread.

Payment for a subscription provides access to the publication and its content. It does not constitute payment for individualized professional advice or consulting services.

9. No Guarantee of Coverage

The Trade Thread does not guarantee that it will identify, report, analyze, or discuss every development affecting U.S. apparel or textile trade.

The absence of coverage of a particular development should not be interpreted to mean that the development is unimportant, inapplicable, or nonexistent.

Publication frequency, subject matter, format, features, and editorial scope may change at any time.

10. Paid Subscriptions

Certain content and features may require a paid subscription.

Subscription prices, billing intervals, available plans, and included features are presented at the time of purchase and may change from time to time.

Unless otherwise stated at the time of purchase, subscriptions may automatically renew according to the billing interval selected by the subscriber.

You authorize the applicable payment processor to charge the payment method associated with your subscription for applicable recurring charges.

You are responsible for maintaining accurate payment and account information.

11. Cancellation and Refunds

You may cancel your subscription at any time through the cancellation procedures made available through the Service or the applicable payment platform.

Cancellation prevents your subscription from automatically renewing but does not automatically entitle you to a refund for the current billing period. You will generally retain access to paid content through the end of the period you have already paid for.

For both monthly and annual subscriptions, refunds may be requested within seven (7) days of the original subscription payment. After this seven-day period, subscription fees are generally non-refundable, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

The Trade Thread may, at its discretion, issue a full or partial refund or credit after the seven-day period in individual circumstances. Providing a refund or credit in one instance does not create an obligation to provide one in similar circumstances in the future.

Billing errors, duplicate charges, or other payment-processing issues may be handled separately.

12. Price Changes

The Trade Thread may change subscription prices from time to time.

If a price change affects a recurring subscription, applicable notice will be provided where required by law or by the terms of the applicable payment platform.

Continued use of the Service after a price change becomes effective constitutes acceptance of the new price, subject to any rights you may have under applicable law.

13. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise indicated, the original articles, written analysis, editorial content, graphics, branding, designs, and other materials created by The Trade Thread are owned by or licensed to The Trade Thread and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

Your subscription grants you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and use the Service for your own lawful purposes, subject to these Terms.

You may not, without prior written permission:

• reproduce or republish paid content;

• publicly post or distribute paid content;

• resell or commercially redistribute paid content;

• systematically copy or archive the publication;

• scrape or automatically collect content from the Service;

• reproduce substantial portions of articles or research;

• share individual subscription credentials;

• create a competing database or publication substantially based on the Service; or

• otherwise exploit the Service or its content beyond the rights expressly granted by these Terms.

Limited quotation of publicly available content for lawful purposes may be permitted under applicable law.

14. Business and Team Use

Unless expressly authorized under a team, enterprise, or other multi-user arrangement, a subscription is intended for the individual subscriber or subscribing organization identified at purchase.

You may not purchase a single-user subscription for the purpose of systematically distributing its content to multiple unauthorized users.

Organizations requiring access for multiple employees or users should contact The Trade Thread regarding an appropriate subscription arrangement.

15. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• use the Service for unlawful purposes;

• interfere with the operation or security of the Service;

• attempt to gain unauthorized access to accounts or systems;

• scrape, crawl, harvest, or systematically extract content or data from the Service;

• circumvent subscription or access controls;

• share credentials in violation of applicable subscription terms;

• reproduce or redistribute paid content without authorization;

• impersonate The Trade Thread or its operator;

• use the Service to infringe the rights of others; or

• use the Service in a manner that could reasonably harm, disrupt, overload, or compromise the Service.

16. User Communications

If you contact The Trade Thread, including by email, you agree not to submit unlawful, threatening, defamatory, fraudulent, or otherwise inappropriate material.

You are responsible for the content of communications you submit.

The Trade Thread does not guarantee that it will respond to every communication or provide individualized advice in response to questions.

Questions concerning a specific shipment, transaction, classification, tariff treatment, legal issue, or compliance matter may be declined or referred to an appropriately qualified professional.

17. Availability and Changes to the Service

The Trade Thread does not guarantee that the Service will always be available, uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

The Trade Thread may modify, suspend, restrict, or discontinue all or part of the Service at any time.

The Trade Thread may change the publication’s format, frequency, subject matter, features, pricing, or delivery methods.

The Trade Thread will not be responsible for losses arising from interruptions, delays, technical problems, maintenance, or discontinuation of the Service, except to the extent such liability cannot legally be excluded.

18. Third-Party Services

The Service may rely on third-party platforms and service providers, including payment processors, publishing platforms, hosting providers, email providers, analytics services, and other technology providers.

Your use of third-party services may also be subject to those providers’ separate terms and policies.

The Trade Thread is not responsible for failures, interruptions, security incidents, policies, or actions of third-party service providers except to the extent required by applicable law.

19. Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE SERVICE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE TRADE THREAD DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AVAILABILITY, RELIABILITY, AND THAT THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR PRODUCE ANY PARTICULAR RESULT.

NO INFORMATION OR CONTENT PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE CREATES ANY WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THESE TERMS.

20. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE TRADE THREAD AND ITS OWNER, OPERATOR, CONTRIBUTORS, CONTRACTORS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR SIMILAR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR USE OF, INABILITY TO USE, OR RELIANCE ON THE SERVICE OR ITS CONTENT.

THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS OR LOSSES RELATING TO:

• LOST PROFITS;

• LOST REVENUE;

• LOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES;

• BUSINESS INTERRUPTION;

• SOURCING LOSSES;

• PROCUREMENT LOSSES;

• INCREASED TARIFFS OR DUTIES;

• CUSTOMS PENALTIES;

• CUSTOMS DELAYS;

• SHIPMENT DETENTION OR SEIZURE;

• SUPPLY-CHAIN DISRUPTION;

• CONTRACTUAL LOSSES;

• COMPLIANCE COSTS; OR

• OTHER COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL LOSSES.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE TRADE THREAD ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU ACTUALLY PAID TO THE TRADE THREAD FOR THE SERVICE DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM OR (B) THE MINIMUM AMOUNT REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

NOTHING IN THESE TERMS IS INTENDED TO EXCLUDE OR LIMIT LIABILITY THAT CANNOT LAWFULLY BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED.

21. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Trade Thread and its owner, operator, contributors, contractors, and service providers from and against claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or relating to:

• your violation of these Terms;

• your misuse of the Service;

• your violation of applicable law;

• your infringement or violation of another person’s rights; or

• your business, sourcing, procurement, importation, exportation, customs, compliance, or other decisions or actions.

22. No Waiver of Non-Waivable Rights

Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive, restrict, or eliminate any right or liability that cannot legally be waived, restricted, or eliminated under applicable law.

23. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except to the extent applicable law requires otherwise.

Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the applicable courts located in California, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

24. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

25. No Waiver

The failure of The Trade Thread to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or the right to enforce it later.

26. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any applicable subscription terms, policies, and other agreements expressly incorporated into them, constitute the entire agreement between you and The Trade Thread concerning your use of the Service and supersede prior understandings concerning the same subject matter, except where another agreement expressly applies.

27. Changes to These Terms

The Trade Thread may update these Terms from time to time.

Updated Terms may be posted through the Service. Your continued use of the Service after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms, except where applicable law requires additional notice or consent.

If a material change requires affirmative consent under applicable law, The Trade Thread will obtain such consent in the manner required by law.

28. Contact

Questions concerning these Terms may be directed to:

The Trade Thread
thetradethread@outlook.com