Apr.24--FOOTWEAR tariffs on US imports must be lowered to promote trade and investment with member states of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), retailers told US trade representative Ron Kirk.
    In a letter, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) said less than one per cent of footwear sold in the US in domestically produced, and tariffs only represent costs and have no benefit for Americans.
    "These tariffs make footwear more expensive and updating the rules for footwear in the TPP would help to lower costs for a basic necessity," said the RILA letter which asked for a quick reduction in duties and regulations.
    RILA pressed its case during the TPP negotiations with nine Pacific Rim nations of US, Vietnam, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Peru, said the letter.
    Since autumn 2011, US legislators have asked to retain the status quo in the hope of retain the American footwear industry, which has been overwhelmed by imports from Vietnam, and now accounts for as much as eight per cent of shoes worn by Americans. 
    Mike Michaud, chairman of the US Congress House Trade Working Group, said in a letter to Mr Kirk last autumn: "Our trade negotiators need to make sure that this trade deal doesn't off-shore what's left of our shoe manufacturers."

(Source:shippingazette)