March 12, 2026 Press Release

FDRA’s Matt Priest Statement on State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Matt Priest, President and CEO of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), released the following statement:

“The footwear industry supports strong and predictable trade rules that ensure American companies and workers can compete on an equal footing globally. However, any new trade investigations or tariffs should be handled carefully, openly, and with a realistic understanding of how global supply chains work.

Footwear is an international industry, and sudden or broad tariff actions could raise costs for American families, disrupt long-standing sourcing partnerships, and create major challenges for small and mid-sized brands that can’t easily shift production. And as President Trump so wisely said last year, footwear production in the United States is not a strategic goal of his administration. He’s not looking to make t-shirts and shoes here. Despite that statement, the administration has already doubled footwear duties in one year, rising from an average of $3 billion to $6.22 billion in 2025 alone.

FDRA remains committed to working with the Trump Administration and U.S. trade officials as these investigations move forward. We urge policymakers to address unfair trade practices in a way that avoids additional footwear duties and unintended harm to consumers, retailers, and the many U.S. businesses that depend on stable and predictable trade policy.”

Read full release here.

About FDRA: FDRA is governed and directed by footwear executives and is the only trade organization focused solely on the footwear industry. Serving the full footwear supply chain, it boosts its members’ bottom lines through innovative products, training, consulting on footwear design and development, sourcing and compliance, trade and customs, advocacy, and consumer and sales trend analysis for shoe retailers around the world. FDRA supports 500 companies and brands worldwide, representing 98% of the total U.S. footwear industry.

To schedule an interview with Matt Priest on the state of the footwear industry, please email fdracomms@cgagroup.com.