The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), a trade association that represents 95% of the footwear industry, is asking President Donald Trump to reduce tariff on footwear just as he has done recently for certain food products.
In a Nov. 25 letter, FDRA notes that footwear tariffs remain among the highest of any consumer product category, averaging more than 12%, with some children’s shoes facing combined rates of up to 87.5%.
FDRA stressed that these tariffs do not protect U.S. jobs or national security because shoes are not manufactured domestically at scale. Instead, they inflate prices on an essential product every family must purchase year after year.
“Reducing or eliminating footwear tariffs would be a strong, pro-family decision consistent with your recent actions to lower costs without jeopardizing American workers or national security,” wrote Matt Priest, FDRA President & CEO. “We stand ready to work with your administration to ensure tariff policy supports families and businesses rather than adding to their financial burden.”
Go here to read the entire FDRA letter to the president and key members of the Trump administration.
