In a collective call to the White House, major US fashion and footwear trade associations have spoken out against the viability of reshoring manufacturing, with steep cost, labour, and supply chain hindrances being cited. In accepting President Donald Trump’s recent assertion that US tariff policy is not intended to revive domestic apparel and footwear production, the industry associations contended that additional increases in tariffs would only accelerate challenges for businesses and consumers alike.
In a joint letter to the president, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and four other leading trade organisations asserted that tariffs are not an effective instrument in remaking the domestic manufacturing sector. The letter stated that tariff policy cannot remove structural barriers, and it’s putting a financial burden on the small number of US-based producers who remain in their industry.
The signatories emphasised that the clothing and footwear industries are already subjected to some of the highest tariff rates in the US economy — a long-standing burden that they claim disproportionately harms lower-income Americans. The letter warned that adding new duties on top of historically high rates would further strain families worst positioned to absorb higher costs.
The group also defined the technical and economic intricacies involved with reviving mass domestic production. They said that making shoes and clothes is labour- and capital-intensive. Shoemaking, in fact, involves a highly skilled labour force and sophisticated techniques mastered over many years. They added that few locations around the world can accommodate the scale and cost profile desired by US consumers, and building new domestic facilities takes decades of strategic investment.
The five groups called on the administration to adopt a balanced policy strategy — one that reduces tariffs, encourages high-value jobs, and brings economic relief to American families. The letter concluded by saying that they urge a pragmatic way forward that serves both industry resilience and consumer affordability.
In addition to the AAFA, the letter was signed by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and the US Fashion Industry Association.
