According to the FDRA, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, clarification on the rules is required. And so a letter signed by the FDRA was sent to the US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) asking the US Government to clarify and update the criteria for classifying footwear as athletic, which can increase or decrease the duty rate for these types of shoes. 

With the explosion in the use of athletic-looking styles and technology in fashion and lifestyle footwear, many types of shoes that are not suitable for athletic activities continue to be classified by the US Government as athletic. And the association gives some examples, such as the All-Star sneakers.

According to the FDRA: "CBP has long struggled with the impact continued athletic footwear innovation has on classifying footwear as both the iconic Converse All-Star shoe and classic Keds sneaker are still classified as athletic footwear.  It is safe to say that decades have passed since either shoe was used in any type of athletic activity by anyone.  This is a clear distinction as intended use is the most important determining factor for athletic classification and not the inclusion of several characteristics that might be shared with athletic footwear".

As innovation keeps transforming the industry at a surprising speed the organisation believes the rulings are not in line with this progress. FDRA President Matt Priest commented: “With 436 different ways to classify footwear embedded in a footwear tariff system launched in 1930, no one should be surprised that such an arcane system has failed to keep up with new and emerging designs and developments.  The time is now for CBP to streamline and clarify the standards they use to classify athletic footwear and provide clarity to our industry.”