The U.S. shoe industry has sent a letter to President Trump urging the cancellation of the proposed new tariff increase that will take effect on September 1, 2019.
A group of business associations representing ready-to-wear and footwear brands, retailers and importers sent a letter to President Trump recommending that he delay all measures scheduled to take effect in 2019. Tariff rates on Chinese goods have been increased.
More than 200 companies including adidas, Nike, Clarks, Puma and other heavyweight brands in the footwear industry urge President Trump to cancel the ban that will take effect on September 1, 2019. Tariffs on imported shoes from China have been increased.
The joint letter led by the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of the United States (FDRA) stated that although tariffs on some products from China will be postponed until December, most Footwear products are scheduled to be subject to a 15% tariff starting from September 1.
The group claims that for footwear tariffs, the average tariff reaches 11% and some shoes reach 67%. The new tax base is already very high. .
FDRA President and CEO Matt Priest said: We have told the White House from the beginning that the tariffs will be paid by Americans in the form of price increases because of our import taxes. Already very high, this will be a killer of employment rates.
American shoe companies of all sizes have signed this joint letter urging President Trump to end the planned tax increases imposed on American consumers. It is critical that the president understands that his new tax policy will hurt their workers and the families who buy their shoes. Brands have said that tariffs will weaken U.S. job growth, and shoe stores have unanimously said that tariff policies are a job killer.
Trump announced on Twitter on August 23 that he would impose new punitive tariffs on imported goods from China, starting from September 1 and December this year. Effective on the 15th, it will start from 15% instead of the 10% expected by the industry.
The organization said: There is no doubt that the tariff itself is a hidden tax paid by American individuals and families. When the cost of importing shoes increases and decreases, whether based on material, transportation, labor or tariff price ebbs and flows, these cost increases or decreases are passed on to consumers almost immediately.
The U.S. footwear industry has sent a letter to President Trump “@realDonaldTrump” asking him to stop the new footwear tariffs that took effect on September 1. The American people will pay for these footwear tariffs…there is no way around them.
— Footwear Dealers and Retailers of America (@FDRA) August 28, 2019
“>According to FDRA data, the new tariffs will have an impact on every shoe and every single market in American society. An additional 15% footwear tariff will cost American consumers $4 billion in additional expenditures each year.
The group told President Trump: We understand that delaying some tariffs until December is to avoid imposing a comprehensive tax increase on $300 billion of goods. To discourage American consumers from spending during the year-end shopping season, we appreciate your decision to delay the imposition of tariffs on certain footwear items.
However, the tariff measures implemented since September will affect most Chinese footwear products, including almost all styles of leather shoes. The harm caused by this tax increase , will cause unavoidable situations for hard-working American people and families.
In addition, due to the 75% import penetration standard of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), those who will be hit first by punitive tariffs are those with more diversified procurement and Products with less dependence on China.
In addition, the group expressed its concern that the tariff actions will further cause uncertainty in the US economy.
Because limited production capacity will drive demand to soar, the threat of tariffs against China may drive up prices in other footwear purchasing countries.
The recession will take away disposable income from American consumers, even if they have to pay more for products. When consumers have less money at their disposal, we sell fewer shoes, which seriously hurts American businesses. The threat of tariffs against China is likely to drive up prices in other footwear-producing countries as limited production capacity drives up demand. Therefore, U.S. consumers may face price increases even before the new tariffs take effect.
The U.S.-China trade war has created uncertainty for our industry and is stifling the growth of the U.S. economy, especially in jobs, infrastructure, technology and services. Provide customers with more competitive quotes and other aspects of capital investment. On behalf of hundreds of millions of American footwear consumers and hundreds of thousands of employees, we ask that you immediately end the scheduled tariff increases on footwear products.
Empowering more action
At the same time, a group of representatives of ready-to-wear and footwear brands and retailers Business associations and importers also wrote an urgent request letter to President Trump, suggesting that the president postpone the increase in tariff rates on all Chinese goods scheduled to take effect this year (2019).
The group known as “Americans for Free Trade”, whose members include the “American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)”, “American Footwear Dealers and Retailers” Business Association (FDRA) and the U.S.The National Retail Federation (NRF) said the tariff increase coincided with “the worst time for deliveries during the busiest shopping season.
Letter to President Trump: During this shopping season, you must take action to protect American businesses, workers and consumers.
The group said: In the early hit list, some products faced tariffs of up to 30%. Many companies had no choice but to pass these costs on to consumers. Consumers are purchasing just in time for the shopping season, and this price increase may hit them Willingness to buy.
Because these tariff measures were announced without any warning, it is impossible for U.S. importers to share the burden with Chinese supply chain partners Tariff costs, and it is impossible to shift production to other countries.
The group said: The adverse effects of these tariff increases will be fully felt in the United States, which may be One of the largest tax increases in U.S. history.
