23 Jan Footwear Industry Expresses Disappointment in U.S. Withdrawal from TPP
Footwear Industry Expresses Disappointment in U.S. Withdrawal from TPP – Loss of Half a Billion Dollars for American Footwear Consumers
(Washington, DC) Matt Priest, President and CEO of the footwear industry’s trade association Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), issued the following statement today after President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP):
While not a surprise, we are extremely disappointed that the U.S. has withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) because of the significant lost opportunity for American footwear consumers and businesses. This 12-nation agreement involved key markets for the U.S. footwear industry, including Vietnam and Japan, and would have saved U.S. footwear companies and consumers more than half a billion dollars a year. FDRA will continue to support efforts for U.S. bilateral free trade agreements with these nations, and we stand ready to work with the President on trade agreements that will deliver real value for American footwear consumers and strengthen U.S. footwear companies.
About FDRA: FDRA is THE Voice of the Footwear Industry in Washington. Representing over 80% of the entire industry, the Footwear Distributors Retailers of America (FDRA) is by far the largest and most respected footwear trade association in the U.S. In all, it supports more than 150 companies and over 200 brands designing, producing and selling great footwear to consumers all over the globe.