Interviews
Coalition hails re-introduction of Affordable Footwear Act
01 Apr '09
4 min read
The Affordable Footwear Act would eliminate about $800 million in duties on children's and low-priced shoes. At a time when it is necessary to restore consumer confidence and rebuild the economy, repealing the shoe tax will help pass as much as $2 billion in savings to U.S. consumers – savings that hardworking American families will see every time they purchase a pair of shoes for their children or themselves.
In 2008, the U.S. government collected over $1.7 billion dollars in duties on imported shoes, far more than any other duty collected on any other single imported good. The added cost to cover the duties directly resulted in consumers paying almost $5 billion dollars more than they needed to at the store for their shoes. Undeniably, shoes are a life necessity and the hidden, regressive shoe tax is an additional burden on hardworking American families at a time when they can least afford it.
Given the current economic strain that threatens further U.S. job losses, quick passage of the Affordable Footwear Act would protect and create jobs in the U.S. footwear industry. Footwear brands and retailers would be able to stave off further downsizing through increased sales revenues while passing along savings to consumers as the duty costs are removed from the price of footwear at the retail level.
In addition, because the legislation does not affect the few remaining footwear items still manufactured in the United States, and even provides additional protections for those items, the Affordable Footwear Act would protect domestic footwear manufacturing jobs.
In the 110th Congress, the bipartisan Affordable Footwear Act was co-sponsored by over one-third of the U.S. House of Representatives and 15 senators, including 21 Members of the Ways and Means Committee and six Members of the Finance Committee.
In 2008, the U.S. government collected over $1.7 billion dollars in duties on imported shoes, far more than any other duty collected on any other single imported good. The added cost to cover the duties directly resulted in consumers paying almost $5 billion dollars more than they needed to at the store for their shoes. Undeniably, shoes are a life necessity and the hidden, regressive shoe tax is an additional burden on hardworking American families at a time when they can least afford it.
Given the current economic strain that threatens further U.S. job losses, quick passage of the Affordable Footwear Act would protect and create jobs in the U.S. footwear industry. Footwear brands and retailers would be able to stave off further downsizing through increased sales revenues while passing along savings to consumers as the duty costs are removed from the price of footwear at the retail level.
In addition, because the legislation does not affect the few remaining footwear items still manufactured in the United States, and even provides additional protections for those items, the Affordable Footwear Act would protect domestic footwear manufacturing jobs.
In the 110th Congress, the bipartisan Affordable Footwear Act was co-sponsored by over one-third of the U.S. House of Representatives and 15 senators, including 21 Members of the Ways and Means Committee and six Members of the Finance Committee.
American Apparel & Footwear Association
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
