US President Donald Trump recently sparked reactions from the domestic apparel and footwear industry after stating that his administration’s tariff policies aim to bolster high-tech and defense manufacturing rather than clothing production.
Referring to a remark by Commerce Secretary Scott Bessent, Trump emphasized, “We’re not looking to make sneakers and T-shirts. We want to make military equipment. We want to make big things. We want to do the AI thing.”
He further clarified, “I’m not looking to make T-shirts, to be honest. We can do that very well in other locations. We are focusing on chips, computers, tanks, and ships.”
These comments have drawn criticism from industry representatives. Steve Lamar, President of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), pointed out that 97% of clothing and footwear in the US is imported and already subject to high tariffs. He urged for practical solutions to effectively support the industry, stating, “We need to focus on common sense solutions that can move the needle.”
Trump’s trade policies include imposing broad tariffs aimed at encouraging domestic production and securing investment in US manufacturing. Recently, he proposed a 50% tariff on European Union imports with a June 1 deadline and threatened a 25% levy on imported iPhones, although the EU tariff deadline was extended to July 9 to facilitate negotiations.
Despite such measures, the US economy remains heavily reliant on international supply chains, particularly for textiles and apparel, where production costs are often lower abroad.
Reporting by news agencies
