President Trump proposed a tariff increase which would result in a 25% increase on Chinese imports including our fresh kicks. At the time, President and CEO of the Footwear Distribution and Retailers of America (FDRA) Matt Priest was among those who spoke out against the proposal, stating the tariff would result in an “unavoidable” retail price increase for consumers.
Now, in a letter from the FDRA, which was signed by about 200 brands including Adidas, Asics, Converse, Foot Locker, Nike, Puma, Reebok, and Under Armour, is asking that Trump “immediately remove footwear” from the group of items up for consideration. The FDRA argues that the tariff would “be a disaster for our consumers, our companies, and the American economy as a whole.”
According to a statement issued by the FDRA, the footwear industry already runs up about $3 billion in import duties each year, a portion of which is built into the retail price of every shoe. However, if Trump’s latest modification is passed, the FDRA estimates it would add an additional $7 billion in duties. “Adding a 25% tax increase on top of these tariffs would mean some working American families could pay a nearly 100 percent duty on their shoes. This is unfathomable,” the FDRA notes
