A coalition of 76 major footwear companies is calling on the U.S. government to exempt footwear from the latest wave of tariffs. By ILM.

The brands, including Nike, Adidas, Crocs, Puma, Skechers and VF Corp, signed a letter addressed to the government by the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA).

The companies argue that footwear is already one of the most heavily taxed imported goods, with tariffs on children’s shoes often reaching 20%, 37.5% or even higher before new retaliatory tariffs are applied.

Now, with the latest tariffs in effect, the total duty burden for some footwear products could soar to between 150% and nearly 220%. Industry leaders say such costs are unsustainable, particularly for companies that produce affordable footwear for working-class families. The letter reads: “Without immediate relief, many of these businesses will simply shutter.”

The FDRA also pushes back on the idea that these tariffs will spur domestic footwear production: “Shifting sourcing to the U.S. takes significant capital investment and years of planning. The American footwear industry does not have months to adjust business models and supply chains while absorbing this unprecedented and unforeseen tariff regime.”

The companies highlighted the risk of imminent job losses, diminished consumer spending and lasting damage to the broader economy. Many are already struggling to cover the costs of shipments arriving at U.S. ports under the new tariff rules.