Nearly 80 companies have signed a letter from the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association of America to President Trump warning that “supplies for American consumers may soon run out.”
Last week, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association of America sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging the White House to consider exempting footwear from tariffs. The letter was signed by 76 companies representing more than 80 brands.
The organization said that U.S. import duties on footwear are already high, with children’s shoes taxed at 20% or more, and that many U.S. shoe brands could face import duties of between 150% and nearly 220% after the new tariffs are imposed.
The group also said that with many orders suspended, “American consumers could soon run out of shoes,” warning that it could push hundreds of businesses to the brink of collapse and impact tens of thousands of jobs.
The footwear industry is not alone in its concerns. Analysts at S&P Global Ratings warned last week that even with diversified supply sources, these companies remain “particularly vulnerable.”
“Many apparel and footwear brands have shifted production to Southeast Asian countries (such as Bangladesh and Vietnam) in response to earlier tariffs and to diversify their supply chains following the COVID-19 outbreak,” the research note said on May 1.
Inventory in the space is already in disarray, with “some companies rushing orders while others are delaying/postponing shipments,” Steve Haas, a former Nordstrom planning chief and founder and CEO of Tailored Solutions Consulting, told BTIG managing director Janine Stichter last month. Orders for the second half of the year, especially for the holiday season, are “in limbo,” according to Stichter’s account of the discussions.
Several analysts recently told Retail Dive that consumers will feel the hit from tariffs during the back-to-school season, Halloween and the holidays.
In addition to fluctuating inventories — too much or too little — side effects of tariffs on these goods could include lower demand and higher freight rates, Haas and Sticker said.
In its letter to Trump, the shoe industry also opposed the idea of moving production back to the United States without “significant capital investment and years of planning.”
“The new tariffs effectively eliminate the business certainty necessary to make such investments and effectively destroy all necessary capital,” the letter said. “In addition, the United States has imposed corresponding tariffs on the machinery and materials necessary to manufacture the shoes.”
The footwear association’s actions contrast with the broader retail industry. Major retailers Walmart, Target and Home Depot met with the president last month on the issue, but said little publicly about the conversation. While the National Retail Federation has criticized the tariffs in its public filings, CEO Matthew Shea did not respond to a question last week about whether retailers were seeking exemptions from the tariffs.
Just in May, Andie completed its first acquisition: Elf Beauty acquired Rhode and Skechers went private.
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Just in May, Andie completed its first acquisition: Elf Beauty acquired Rhode and Skechers went private.
Every year brings unique headwinds and tailwinds. From the growing focus on digitally-enabled media (DEI) to the changing nature of DTC, here’s what we’ll be watching in 2025.
Post time: Jun-28-2025