The Trump administration should exempt footwear from proposed tariffs, according to a trade group that represents major shoe makers. The group warns that the tariffs may drastically increase consumer costs and push businesses to close.
The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America urged President Donald Trump to re-evaluate the tariffs in a letter dated 29th April, characterising them as an “existential threat” to the sector.
The group warned that if the situation persists, it will negatively impact both American footwear workers and consumers. They emphasised the urgency of the matter, calling for prompt action and attention. Companies, including Under Armour Inc., Nike Inc., Puma SE and Adidas‘s US affiliate, co-signed the letter.
According to the signatories, the tariffs are unlikely to lead to the return of footwear manufacturing to the US because doing so would need years of planning and a large financial investment. Additionally, they contended that businesses cannot fully restructure their operations towards domestic production while managing the additional costs.
Vietnam and Indonesia, two important global footwear hubs, are among the countries with the largest tariff increases. The magnitude of the potential disruption is shown by the fact that approximately 50 per cent of all shoes marketed under the Nike brand are manufactured in Vietnam.
