Should Congress Lower Tariffs on Imported Shoes? July 25, 2008

Host: The Cato Institute. This policy forum features U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Ed Gresser of the Progressive Policy Institute, and William Hawkins of the U.S. Business and Industry Council, and is moderated by Daniel T. Griswold of Cato. 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.

Official Website: http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5168