Footwear brands, including Nike, Adidas ask Trump for tariff exemption

Footwear giants urge Trump to spare shoes from tariffs

Robert Besser
08 May 2025, 19:37 GMT+10

Footwear brands, including Nike, Adidas ask Trump for tariff exemption

Dozens of major footwear companies, including Nike, Adidas, and Skechers, have signed a letter urging U.S. President Donald Trump to exempt shoes from the latest round of reciprocal tariffs
The appeal, organized by the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA), highlights mounting concerns across the industry over rising import costs
Dated April 29, the letter was signed by 76 companies, including Deckers Brands, Capri Holdings, Under Armour, and VF Corp

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Dozens of major footwear companies, including Nike, Adidas, and Skechers, have signed a letter urging U.S. President Donald Trump to exempt shoes from the latest round of reciprocal tariffs.

The appeal, organized by the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA), highlights mounting concerns across the industry over rising import costs. Dated April 29, the letter was signed by 76 companies, including Deckers Brands, Capri Holdings, Under Armour, and VF Corp.

The FDRA noted that footwear is already subject to steep duties—particularly children's shoes, which often carry tariffs of 20 percent, 37.5 percent, or even higher—before accounting for new levies.

"Given the nature of the U.S. footwear industry, American footwear businesses and families face an existential threat from such substantial cost increases. Hundreds of businesses face the prospect of closure," the letter stated.

President Trump's administration imposed sweeping tariffs in early April, including a 145 percent duty on some Chinese imports. The broader trade policy has triggered warnings from companies and uncertainty across retail sectors.

Adidas, despite posting strong first-quarter results, declined to raise its 2025 financial forecasts due to tariff risks. Skechers also withdrew its annual guidance, citing unpredictability in U.S. trade policy.

China's Commerce Ministry said it was evaluating Washington's offer to hold talks over the new tariffs.

The FDRA letter called for "a more targeted approach, focused on strategic items rather than basic consumer goods."

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Business Sun.

More Information

null in null

Financial Markets

Section

us stocks story thursday 8 may 2025

Can you please write a news story about the closing stock market quotes for Thursday for ALL the following indices but can you change...

Footwear giants urge Trump to spare shoes from tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Dozens of major footwear companies, including Nike, Adidas, and Skechers, have signed a letter urging U.S. President...

Kimberly-Clark to invest $2 billion in US manufacturing expansion

Kimberly-Clark to invest $2 billion to bulk up US manufacturing

IRVING, Texas: Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers, announced this week it will invest US$2 billion over...

Hong Kong's economy grows 3.1 percent in Q1, marks ninth straight gain

Hong Kong's economy accelerated in Q1 ahead of tariff storm

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's economy grew by 3.1 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, according...

U.S. stocks extend gains after FOMC leaving rates untouched

U.S. stock markets, dollar advance on Fed rate decision

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks advanced on Wednesday while the U.S. dollar made across-the-board gains after the Federal Reserve...

JetBlue pilots oppose new US airline partnership plan

JetBlue's plan for domestic partnership faces union backlash

LONG ISLAND CITY, New York: JetBlue Airways' plan to strike a domestic partnership with another U.S. airline is drawing sharp resistance...

Technology

Section

Footwear giants urge Trump to spare shoes from tariffs

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Financial Markets

us stocks story thursday 8 may 2025

Footwear giants urge Trump to spare shoes from tariffs

Kimberly-Clark to invest $2 billion in US manufacturing expansion

Hong Kong's economy grows 3.1 percent in Q1, marks ninth straight gain

U.S. stocks extend gains after FOMC leaving rates untouched

JetBlue pilots oppose new US airline partnership plan

Technology

TikTok fined 530 million euros for EU data privacy violations

GISEC Global 2025 fuels growth of cybersecurity market

Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Launches India's First AI-Focused Institute

Chhattisgarh's first AI Datacentre Park inaugurated by CM Vishnu Deo Sai

UAE hosts inaugural Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit

Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses rebuts Pakistan cyber force's hacking claims

Movie Review

The Heiress [Blu-Ray]