A WIN FOR AMERICAN FOOTWEAR MAKERS AND WORKERS
What do these boots have in common?
They were both made abroad and slightly modified to avoid U.S. footwear tariffs. More specifically, they have small pieces of fabric incorporated into the soles of the boots so that they can be considered a textile rather than footwear. By doing this, foreign companies can avoid long standing U.S. footwear tariffs. In fact, the small amount of fabric on these boots actually wears off after the first use.
This is cheating the international trading system, and it hurts companies in Maine like New Balance that make shoes in the USA.
Clearly these boots should qualify as footwear and should be treated as such when it comes to assessing duties on similar products at our borders. That’s why Mike worked with members of Maine’s congressional delegation and others to push the Obama Administration to crack down on these illegal foreign imports in order to ensure that footwear made in the USA is not put at a disadvantage due to trade policy cheaters.
Thankfully, the Administration agreed with Mike and his colleagues and put an end to this practice. Click here for more information on additional steps Mike is taking to promote Maine’s footwear manufacturers and their workers.
