A man shopping for shoes in a Nike Outlet store in Los Angeles on April 10, 2025.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty images
The biggest brands of American shoes ask President Donald Trump for a suspended price.
The shoe distributors and the retailers of America Trade Group sent a letter to the White House this week to request an exemption from the so-called reciprocal rates of Trump, which, according to the association, constitute an “existential threat” for the shoe industry. The letter is signed by 76 shoe brands, including Nike,, Adidas,, Skechers And Under armor.
“Many companies that manufacture affordable shoes for low -income worker and intermediate income families cannot absorb such high rate rates, and they cannot transmit these costs. Without immediate relief of the reciprocal rates that they will simply make close”, reads the letter, which is dated April 29.
“Many orders have been put on hold, and the inventory of shoes for American consumers could soon be low,” said the sales group.
Trump’s wide prices, announced on April 2, included samples from several countries that are important sources for shoe suppliers, including China, Vietnam and Cambodia. While the initial rate rates of more than 45% for Vietnam and Cambodia were lowered to 10% for a period of 90 days, the Trump administration has only brought together rights on Chinese imports, which are now subject to a rate of 145% efficient.
Trump’s higher prices on dozens of business partners are expected to resume in early July.
Adidas previously warned this week that prices would lead to higher prices for American consumers. At the end of March, before the announcement of specific reciprocal rate rates, the Nike finance chief said that global samples and economic uncertainty would lead to a drop in sales to the current quarter.
The letter from the Shoe Association said that industry had already faced significant tasks on products such as children’s shoes before Trump announces his large prices. In total, American shoe companies will face prices between 150% and around 220%, said the commercial group.
“This is an emergency that requires immediate action and attention. The American shoe industry has no month to adjust commercial models and supply chains while absorbing this unprecedented and unforeseen pricing,” wrote the association.
The group has also warned that prices will not lead to bringing manufacturing to the United States back, as Trump has promised,, Because they erase the certainty that companies need to invest in supply changes.
The White House did not immediately respond to the request for CNBC comments.