Footwear Industry Expands Tariff Exemption Appeal

A coalition of over 80 leading footwear companies, including Nike, Adidas, Skechers, and Under Armour, has urgently appealed to President Donald Trump to exempt shoes from newly imposed reciprocal tariffs, warning of an 'existential threat' to the industry. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are leading the push for relief, highlighting that footwear, especially children's and low-cost shoes, already faces some of the highest U.S. import tariffs, with new rates potentially increasing duties to nearly 220%. The companies argue the tariffs will not revive U.S. manufacturing but could trigger mass business closures, tens of thousands of job losses, and higher consumer prices. Brands like Adidas and Skechers have already issued conservative financial forecasts due to the uncertainty. Industry leaders are urging the administration to create an exclusion process to protect small businesses from economic harm. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has indicated it is open to tariff negotiations, but the U.S. footwear sector warns that immediate action is needed to avoid lasting damage.