Although overall retail sales increased in the first half of the year, fashion sales fell, weighed down by weak demand in the early months, inflationary pressures and new tariffs. In this context, the online channel remains a bright spot, as consumers increasingly seek convenience and discounts. At the same time, footwear imports in the first seven months of the year recorded higher values but lower volumes, as average prices climbed under tariff pressure. Despite glimpses of improvement, retailers face a challenging road ahead, with fragile consumer sentiment and uncertain trade policy
The German footwear industry saw a 1.3% year-on-year increase in sales in the first half, driven solely by domestic demand. Foreign sales fell by 11%, highlighting market challenges, according to HDS/L
The Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) has welcomed the 5.5 billion USD credit line to support local companies affected by US import tariffs, but says that additional measures to protect jobs are needed
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order delaying the introduction of higher tariffs on Chinese goods by a further 90 days, while negotiations between the two countries continue
Countries such as Portugal and Spain could benefit from Trump’s latest tariff policies, as the EU is the least penalised region, with tariffs of only 15%, which do not accumulate with historical tariffs
Now that Trump’s self-imposed deadline for the 1st of August has been reached, we present the latest update on tariff policies, highlighting the main concerns for the fashion industry
The US will impose a 15% tariff on most EU imports, half the rate initially threatened. The deal includes 600 billion USD of EU investment in the US and 750 billion USD of EU purchases of American energy and defence products
The US President announced a "massive" trade agreement with Japan, setting reciprocal tariffs of 15% on Japanese exports to the US. The deal includes auto tariffs at the same level
Both the US President Donald Trump and the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said that the tariffs faced by the Southeast Asian country would be reduced from 32% to 19%
Tensions are rising over trade after US President Donald Trump sent letters to the European Union (EU) and Mexico threatening to impose a 30% tariff on their goods from the 1st of August
Donald Trump has threatened Brazil with a 50% tariff starting on the 1st of August over charges against its former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro. The Brazilian footwear industry has already voiced its concern
Donald Trump has officially delayed imposing higher tariffs on US imports until the 1st of August, and has sent letters to 14 countries detailing the levies they face, including Japan and Korea
US President Donald Trump announced that the US would impose lower-than-expected tariffs of 20% on many Vietnamese exports, and 40% on transshipments through Vietnam from third countries
The United States and China have reached a framework agreement on a trade deal that eases global trade tensions. However, the final terms have yet to be formally agreed upon by both governments
The event will address challenges such as tariff uncertainty, supply chain fragmentation, and shifting economic geographies in order to help brands and companies navigate the international landscape