May 12, 2025 Press Release

FDRA Urges White House to Finish the Job on Tariff Relief as Trade Talks Advance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Matt Priest, President and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), released a statement in response to recent progress in President Trump’s trade negotiations with China:

“We’re encouraged by President Trump and his administration’s progress in the U.S.-China trade negotiations — this is a good step toward easing tensions, which is important for American businesses and consumers. But we’re not across the finish line yet. Some shoes still face duties approaching 100%, and that’s unacceptable. We’ve outlined clear, reasonable exemptions in our letter to the Administration, and we urge them to take action to ease the burden on Americans further. Our industry needs relief — and so do the families we serve.”

Read the full letter here: FDRA Letter to President Trump – April 2025

Read the 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 95% 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.