Footwear giants Nike, Adidas join 76 brands in plea for tariff exemption

China

Footwear giants Nike, Adidas join 76 brands in plea for tariff exemption

2025-05-04 15:32 Last Updated At：21:57

The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to exempt shoes from "reciprocal tariffs," warning of serious consequences for consumers and the industry.

"American footwear businesses and families face an existential threat from such substantial cost increases," the FDRA said in a letter to Trump on Tuesday, signed by 76 footwear companies, including major brands like Nike, Adidas America and Skechers.

"We are hit particularly hard by the tariff actions," it said, noting the new "reciprocal rates" are stacked on top of the existing high footwear tariff rates, pushing many American footwear companies to pay a tariff ranging from more than 150 percent to nearly 220 percent.

Hundreds of businesses face the prospect of closure, tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, many orders have been placed on hold, and footwear inventory for U.S. consumers may soon run low, it said.

These tariffs will not drive shoe manufacturing back to the United States, said the letter.

"This is an emergency that requires immediate action and attention," it noted, adding the American footwear industry does not have months to adjust business models and supply chains while absorbing this "unprecedented and unforeseen tariff regime."

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.