The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) called on the U.S. government to give greater attention to the problem of counterfeit footwear sales on digital platforms.

Each year, more than 2.3 billion pairs of shoes cross U.S. borders (approximately 7 pairs of shoes per U.S. population). 

In terms of value, from January to November 2024, U.S. imports of footwear and shoe parts totaled $25.123 billion, up 4.7% over the same period in 2023.

Counterfeit footwear sales

Many FDRA-affiliated companies sell brands that reach consumers in markets around the world. These companies manage supply chains that span the globe, so they understand the importance of protecting intellectual property and innovation. 

These are U.S. imports footwear and parts, in millions of dollars:

• 2018: 26,504.
• 2019: 26,874.
• 2020: 20,477.
• 2021: 26,980.
• 2022: 35,475.
• 2023: 25,982.
• 2024 (January-November): 25,123.

The FDRA urged the Special 301 Committee to investigate the increase in sales of counterfeit footwear on online shopping platforms, including those that use social media for promotion. According to the business association, these platforms pay influencers to normalize the purchase of counterfeits. According to FDRA, some of these platforms also advertise their ability to remove counterfeit listings, without actually doing so, leading to more erroneous purchases by consumers looking for authentic products. 

U.S. Industry

FDRA represents more than 500 U.S. footwear companies, including the majority of manufacturers and more than 95% of the industry. For 80 years, it has supported companies of all sizes, from family-owned businesses to global brands.

To strengthen intellectual property protection, FDRA further urged the Trump Administration to sign new trade agreements and improve existing ones. These treaties are key to driving change and strengthening intellectual property protection in today’s economy.

These are the top five exporters of footwear and parts to the U.S. market from January through November 2024, in millions of dollars and year-over-year growth rates:

• China: 9,015 (+0.3 percent).
• Vietnam: 8,147 (+14.8 percent).
• Indonesia: 2,321 (+16.8 percent).
• Italy: 1,767 (-13.8 percent).
• Cambodia: 810 (+28.9 percent).