According to the OIA, the possibility that Congress won’t extend temporary duty relief on dozens of types of outdoor footwear featuring water resistant textile and synthetic uppers has manufacturers re-evaluating product design and production schedules for their 2010 season.
In a conference call last week, Alexander Boian, director of trade policy, OIA, and the trade group's lobbyists from Sorini, Samet & Associates hosted a conference call on the status of the Miscellaneous Trade Bill (MTB).
According to Boian, some manufacturers are racing to make and import footwear for next spring ahead of January 1, 2010, when duties on the affected footwear could revert to as high as 37.5% if Congress does not act. Others have opted to redesign product to bring it in under other tariff codes. Among the footwear affected are those using certain laminates and treatments to create water-resistant and breathable uppers. Footwear with leather uppers is not affected.
Congress usually passes the non-controversial bill every two years to provide duty suspensions to hundreds of products no longer made in the United States, said Boian.
