Portuguese footwear rejects protectionist measures, but doesn’t give up on the US market
03 Apr 2025
News
The recent announcement of new "reciprocal tariffs” by Donald Trump hasn’t taken the Portuguese footwear industry by surprise. "In principle, we reject protectionist measures. On the contrary, we are always in favour of free, fair and balanced trade”, says the APICCAPS spokesperson. "However, we were prepared for this moment because we are completing a major investment – 120 million euros – in areas such as robotic automation and sustainability”.
In this new global economic order, European products – such as footwear – will have to be taxed at 20%, compared to an additional 34% tax on Chinese products or 46% on Vietnamese products.
In the immediate term, says Vasco Rodrigues of the Catholic University of Porto, "these tariffs mean that imported footwear will become more expensive, which will discourage consumption”. However, given the differences in tariffs imposed on footwear from different countries, "this decision represents an opportunity to strengthen the market share of Portuguese footwear in the US”, he stresses.
The head of the Office of Management Studies and Applied Economics at the Catholic University of Porto also says it’s essential to understand "the impact on other markets”. "With increased difficulties in accessing the American market, Chinese and Vietnamese producers will certainly step up their efforts to penetrate the European market and other regions. Portuguese producers will have to prepare for increased competition in their traditional markets”, he points out.
The weight of the American market
According to the World Footwear Yearbook, the US is the largest footwear consumer market. More than 1986 million pairs of shoes are imported each year, worth almost 26 billion US dollars. China is traditionally the largest supplier to the market, with a share of almost 60% (equivalent to 1.2 billion pairs), followed by Vietnam (23% share of 461 million pairs) and Indonesia (6% share of 129 million pairs in 2023).
The US is a strategic market for Portugal, which currently ranks 6th as a destination for its exports. In the last decade, Portuguese exports to the States have doubled and reached almost 100 million euros by the end of 2024. "Although we already export more than 90% of our production to 170 countries, we consider the North American market to be strategic and the Portuguese footwear industry’s big bet for the next decade”, says Paulo Gonçalves.
Portuguese footwear will not give up
According to the APICCAPS spokesman, "the footwear sector will not give up on the US market”. On the contrary, from a strategic point of view, "given that the resources at our disposal are not unlimited, the international promotion effort requires an efficient use of resources”. This is why the Footwear Cluster Strategic Plan 2030 has identified 145 priority cities, 30% of which are in the US. "Among the advanced economies, the US is the country with the best prospects”.
According to Paulo Gonçalves, "the footwear sector is now in a much better position to approach the US market, especially after the investments made in automation and sustainability”. "We are in the American market to stay”, he concludes.
In this new global economic order, European products – such as footwear – will have to be taxed at 20%, compared to an additional 34% tax on Chinese products or 46% on Vietnamese products.
In the immediate term, says Vasco Rodrigues of the Catholic University of Porto, "these tariffs mean that imported footwear will become more expensive, which will discourage consumption”. However, given the differences in tariffs imposed on footwear from different countries, "this decision represents an opportunity to strengthen the market share of Portuguese footwear in the US”, he stresses.
The head of the Office of Management Studies and Applied Economics at the Catholic University of Porto also says it’s essential to understand "the impact on other markets”. "With increased difficulties in accessing the American market, Chinese and Vietnamese producers will certainly step up their efforts to penetrate the European market and other regions. Portuguese producers will have to prepare for increased competition in their traditional markets”, he points out.
The weight of the American market
According to the World Footwear Yearbook, the US is the largest footwear consumer market. More than 1986 million pairs of shoes are imported each year, worth almost 26 billion US dollars. China is traditionally the largest supplier to the market, with a share of almost 60% (equivalent to 1.2 billion pairs), followed by Vietnam (23% share of 461 million pairs) and Indonesia (6% share of 129 million pairs in 2023).
The US is a strategic market for Portugal, which currently ranks 6th as a destination for its exports. In the last decade, Portuguese exports to the States have doubled and reached almost 100 million euros by the end of 2024. "Although we already export more than 90% of our production to 170 countries, we consider the North American market to be strategic and the Portuguese footwear industry’s big bet for the next decade”, says Paulo Gonçalves.
Portuguese footwear will not give up
According to the APICCAPS spokesman, "the footwear sector will not give up on the US market”. On the contrary, from a strategic point of view, "given that the resources at our disposal are not unlimited, the international promotion effort requires an efficient use of resources”. This is why the Footwear Cluster Strategic Plan 2030 has identified 145 priority cities, 30% of which are in the US. "Among the advanced economies, the US is the country with the best prospects”.
According to Paulo Gonçalves, "the footwear sector is now in a much better position to approach the US market, especially after the investments made in automation and sustainability”. "We are in the American market to stay”, he concludes.