Should Congress Lower Tariffs on Imported Shoes?

POLICY FORUM
Friday, July 25, 2008
12:00 p.m. (Luncheon to Follow)

Featuring U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, Ed Gresser, Progressive Policy Institute, and William Hawkins, U.S. Business and Industry Council.

Among the highest remaining U.S. tariffs are those imposed on imported shoes, with the highest duties applying to the cheapest shoes. Critics of the tariffs contend that they fall most heavily on the poorest American households while “saving” few domestic jobs. Defenders argue that the tariffs provide revenue for the federal government, have little impact on consumer prices, and steer trade to our free-trade partners at the expense of China. A bill in Congress to eliminate certain shoe tariffs, the Affordable Footwear Act, currently has more than 140 co-sponsors in the House and may be attached to the upcoming Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. Please join us for a forum featuring a co-sponsor of the footwear act and two trade experts who will debate the merits of lowering tariffs on imported shoes.

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