In a statement, FDRA President and CEO Matt Priest wrote that the latest proposed list of Chinese imports subject to higher tariffs will be “paid by every American, every time they buy shoes.”
The statement was made after USTR’s proposed List 4 was released Tuesday showing all footwear from China would be hit with a 25 percent additional tariff.
Priest’s full statement read, “President Trump’s latest proposal to raise import taxes on shoes from China means that Americans will pay an additional $7 billion in higher shoe costs per year. American families will see basic kids shoes go from $10 to $15 per pair, their running shoes go from $150 to $206.25, and their favorite canvas sneakers go from $49.99 to $65.57 at retail. Many of President Trump’s supporters in the heartland will also see the President dip further into their wallet when popular hunting boots go from $190 to $248.56. These are the real numbers we have calculated; they are not empty rhetoric. Import taxes on shoes are not paid by China. They are paid by every American, every time they buy shoes. This is not fair, it is not sustainable, and it will not solve our trade issues. We ask the President to read our numbers, realize hiking import taxes on shoes inflicts unnecessary financial pain on everyone in America, and take shoes off his new 301 list.”
