President Trump’s latest executive order slaps new customs tariffs on all products entering the U.S. from August 7 onwards. While most countries face an additional 10–30% on top of existing duties, the European Union seems to have tiptoed through with relatively minor damage.
Under the order, EU exports will not see cumulative tariffs. Instead, products that already face less than a 15% tariff will only be bumped up to that threshold. For example, Portuguese men’s leather shoes, previously taxed at 8.5%, will now incur an additional 6.5% capping total duties at 15%.
Products already taxed above 15%? No further duties!
It’s a different and costlier story for key Asian producers like Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia and Pakistan. Their footwear exports will be hit with additional tariffs ranging from 19% to 25% on top of the current rates. For instance, Vietnam’s shoes, already subject to a 13.3% tariff, will now see an added 20%, totaling 28%. India faces the steepest hike at 25%.
Brazil takes the hardest hit globally, with a 10% base tariff plus a massive 40% surcharge under the IEEPA, bringing the total duty on Brazilian footwear exports to a bruising 50% and that’s before legacy tariffs are added.
According to the World Footwear 2025 Yearbook, China continues to dominate global production with a 54.3% share. India and Vietnam follow with 12.5% and 6.5% respectively, while Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Türkiye, Cambodia and Mexico round out the top producers.
Source: APICCAPS
