WASHINGTON, May 23, 2024 _ Trade policy director Karlee Popken testified before the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on “Promoting Supply Chain Resilience,” part of the United States Footwear Manufacturers Association’s (USFMA) proactive efforts to shape policies that fuel the resurgence in domestic footwear manufacturing.
She highlighted the strides being made in expanding domestic production and urged more aggressive federal government policies on trade that prevent continued growth.
“In recent years, the domestic footwear manufacturing industry has made significant investments in domestic capacity and production levels, but significant global competitiveness challenges remain,” Popken testified at the public hearing. “United States domestic manufacturing is still striving to compete with state-subsidized industries abroad.”
USTR is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and oversees negotiations with foreign nations.
Popken appeared with representatives of other domestic industries, including retail, metal forging, construction, solar energy, and mining.
At issue for footwear manufacturers and suppliers are thousands of skilled jobs here at home. “Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics paint a sobering picture, indicating a steady decline in footwear manufacturing employment over the years,” Popken testified. “This decline is primarily attributed to the expansion of footwear manufacturing abroad, driven by the offshoring of much of the supply chain components over the last 30 years.”
Yet the stakes are much higher, she explained. The footwear supply chain also supports other critical products, ranging from protective gear to medical supplies.
“[The footwear manufacturing industry] serves as a linchpin for demand in yarns, fabrics, and foams essential for various medical devices, emphasizing the industry's commercial viability and its broader contribution to national emergency preparedness,” Popken testified.
During her testimony, she also outlined a series of trade policy priorities for USFMA, including support for expanded tariffs on Chinese goods; “a broader embrace of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with our partners in the Western Hemisphere”; and policies that “carefully and strictly outline” requirements that limit the exploitation of FTA by adversary nations that ship goods via third countries.
In addition, Popken urged the USTR to work with Congress to support trade policies that support domestic supply chains, stating; “We encourage the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to robustly and proactively engage with Congress to advocate for policies that support domestic supply chains and manufacturing.”
Read USFMA Trade Policy Director Karlee Popken’s full testimony.
The United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) association founded in 1986 to grow, protect and enhance the footwear industry’s manufacturing base in the United States.