Footwear Distributors Say Tariffs 30% of Kids Shoes' Costs in Some Designs
The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America say they know the administration cannot help with the spike in shipping costs, but it could ease inflation by removing Section 301 tariffs on children's shoes. In a letter sent Oct. 19, the group said, "Kids’ shoe prices have now reached the highest in over 70 years, causing massive sticker shock for those who can least afford it. The rising costs we see in the shoe supply chain are a contributing factor for shoe retail price increases. That has been the lead, but the real headline has been buried. Government import taxes now make up 30 percent of the price of certain types of children’s shoes at big box retailers where most working-class families shop."
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The group said that the "highest tariff rates are generally placed on lower value footwear, creating a regressive hidden tax for working class families. In addition, for those few children’s shoes with relatively lower rates, the 301 tariffs led to drastic rate increases. With the added 301 tariffs, the tariff rate doubled for certain children’s casual shoes and slippers, and it more than tripled for certain plastic sandals, wool slippers, and infant crib shoes."