An illusion to think shoes are about cheap labour
10/04/2025
He said it did look to him as though the US was intent on becoming “more isolationist”, but added that, for sports shoes, the matter was more complex than manufacturing countries with cheaper labour rates ceasing to be attractive in the face of tariffs.
He explained: “It would be an illusion to think this is just about cheap labour. These countries have invested huge amounts in the technology and the manufacturing capabilities that goes into making these products. It will take a lot to overturn the economics of that.”
What he thinks the likely result will be of tariffs at very high levels is products just becoming more expensive for consumers.
Share this story:
