USA | President Trump has signed executive orders to impose broad tariffs on products, including footwear, from the nation’s three most significant trading partners, Canada, Mexico and China.
All goods imported from Canada and Mexico will be subject to a 25 percent tariff, except for Canadian energy products, which will be subject to a 10 percent tariff. Chinese goods will be subject to a 10 percent tariff.
These levies were implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and will take effect on the 4th of February.
Although the Trump administration argued that the changes would boost domestic production, there will likely be far-reaching negative consequences for American consumers.
“Over the past few years, hardworking Americans have faced high inflation and high costs across the board, and many families continue to struggle to pay for essential items they have to buy as a necessity — food, groceries, clothing, and shoes,” said Matt Priest, CEO and President of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).
“Tariffs drive up prices for consumers, and quite simply, that means higher prices on necessities like shoes. We urge President Trump and his economic team to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and avoid imposing new tariffs that will immediately hurt American families.”
The American Apparel and Footwear Association has also expressed concern over the full tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, the US’s three most significant trading partners.
“Widespread tariff actions on Mexico, Canada, and China announced this evening will inject massive costs into our inflation-weary economy while exposing us to a damaging tit-for-tat tariff war that will harm key export markets that U.S. farmers and manufacturers need,” said Steve Lamar, AAFA president and CEO.
“We should be forging deeper collaboration with our free trade agreement partners, not taking actions that call into question the very foundation of those partnerships.”
In response, Canada and Mexico will prepare similar tariffs on US goods.
Canadian President Justin Trudeau has said the country will respond with 25 percent tariffs on USD 155 billion worth of American goods, including clothing and shoes.
The Chinese government said it would take “corresponding countermeasures to resolutely safeguard our rights and interests” and take the case against the US to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
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