FDRA warns of footwear shortages and rising prices
The U.S. footwear industry is bracing for significant disruption, according to Matt Priest, President and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), in a recent interview with Bloomberg TV.
Mr Priest described the current landscape as “chaotic,” as tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese imports lead to widespread order cancellations. “We just can’t financially afford to bring product in,” he said, warning that shortages—particularly in low-cost footwear—are likely if the situation continues.
China still supplies more than half of all footwear imported into the U.S., and many of those products serve price-sensitive consumers. With already high baseline duties now compounded by the new tariffs, Priest said many businesses simply can’t cover the costs. “It’s not profitable, so you’re just not going to ship it.”
The result could be price hikes for consumers. “There’s a clear correlation,” he explained. “As prices go up at the border, prices for the consumer go up.” Although there was a brief dip in March, Priest believes it may be “the calm before the storm.”
While some production may shift to countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, or Mexico, reshoring to the U.S. remains unrealistic. “We just don’t have the capacity or labour interest to produce at scale,” he said.
The FDRA has been lobbying Congress and the administration, sending over 2,000 letters and meeting with lawmakers across both parties. Mr Priest says concern is widespread—even among those who typically support strong trade action—because of the political risks of rising consumer costs.
“We’re just trying to tread water,” he said. “Everyone’s waiting to see where the White House lands.”
