08 Nov Footwear Execs Push TPP in Washington, DC
FDRA visited Capitol Hill and the Obama Administration October 29th and 30th to urge the House and Senate and other policy makers to support a logical trade policy for footwear in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. The delegation asked for a reduction induties on footwear from the current Smoot Hawley Act tariffs and for sensible rules of origin that will allow the footwear industry to take advantage of Vietnam as a potential manufacturing hub.
FDRA members, including Foot Locker, Wolverine Worldwide, Brown Shoe Company, Shoe Carnival, Clark’s, NIKE, Rack Room Shoes, Dear Stags Concepts and R. G. Barry, met with 35 House offices and 27 Senate offices, including senior members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee. The delegation also met with administration officials.
According to the administration, TPP negotiations have reached a critical phase and talks may conclude by the end of 2013 or early 2014. Parties to the agreement include the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Peru.
FDRA will continue to fight for duty free on all footwear and ensure the White House understands where the vast majority of the industry stands. Stay tuned to this space for details as they happen.