Nike, adidas, 70+ Brands Sign FDRA Letter Asking Trump for Footwear Tariff Exemptions

The Footwear Industry Speaks Up

The biggest names in footwear are making their voices heard in Washington. In a formal letter dated April 29, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)—alongside 76 major footwear companies including Nike, adidas, Puma, Skechers, Crocs, and Under Armour — called on President Donald Trump to exempt footwear from the reciprocal tariffs.

The ask was just that: exempt all footwear from the administration’s newly announced reciprocal tariff plan, which industry leaders say will devastate American companies, drive up consumer prices, and do nothing to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.

Context: Tariffs Return, Uncertainty Looms

President Trump has revived one of his signature economic tools—tariffs—via a sweeping reciprocal tariff plan to level trade imbalances with key U.S. partners. Introduced in early April, the plan imposes new duties on imports from multiple countries, with some rates reaching as high as 145% on consumer goods, including footwear.

While most countries are subject to a 90-day pause to allow for negotiations, the outcome is still unknown —China was excluded from that delay, meaning higher duties on Chinese-made shoes are already in effect. However, the FDRA’s letter isn’t limited to China—it calls for footwear from all sources to be fully exempt from the new tariff regime.

The instability has already rattled the industry. adidas, despite a strong first quarter, held off on raising its 2025 forecast this week due to the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy and these very tariffs. Plus, just a few days ago, adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden warned of price increases that will inevitably come. Meanwhile, China’s Commerce Ministry says it is “evaluating” a potential return to trade talks with the U.S. in response to the tariff escalation.

Tariffs on Shoes Are a Tax on Working Families

According to the FDRA, footwear was already one of the most heavily taxed consumer categories before the new tariff plan. Items like children’s shoes regularly carry 20% to 37.5% base tariffs. With the new reciprocal tariffs layered on top, some brands now face total duty rates ranging from 150% to over 220%.

“These tariffs will not drive shoe manufacturing back to the U.S.,” the letter states. “We are in fact the one industry where tariffs do not significantly increase domestic production; tariffs just become a major impact at the cash register for every family.”

The letter was also addressed to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greet, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Footwear Companies Warn of Immediate Fallout

Beyond long-term planning concerns, the letter highlights an urgent short-term issue: companies don’t know how they’ll pay the unexpected duties on products already arriving at U.S. ports. Some brands face tariffs that weren’t budgeted for, potentially risking cash flow, staffing, and future production. “Many of our companies do not know how, or even if, they will pay the costs of already shipped merchandise now arriving on U.S. shores. The inability to pay for these immediate and unforeseen additional tariffs places many U.S. footwear businesses at imminent risk.”

The 76 companies from whom the letter is signed represent a huge portion of the U.S. sneaker and casual footwear market. Their collective message? “If the current situation continues, American footwear workers and consumers will suffer.”

A Push for Smarter, More Targeted Trade Policy

Rather than targeting basic consumer goods like footwear, the FDRA encourages the administration to focus on strategic items, which would "advance critical national security imperatives without causing unnecessary pain to American families."

In its current form, the footwear industry argues, the tariff plan is little more than a tax hike on middle- and working-class families, with no benefit to domestic manufacturing.

What Happens Next?

Although there’s a temporary pause on the rollout for most trading partners, Chinese footwear imports are already subject to the new tariffs, and the clock is ticking on the broader implementation. If exemptions aren’t granted soon, brands warn, the industry could face sweeping consequences for the rest of 2025 and beyond. With sourcing shifts taking years, not months, the FDRA directly appeals for immediate relief. “This is an emergency that requires immediate action and attention," the letter states.

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