Brazilian footwear sector hit by US tariff, seeks growth in Canada

The United States Office of the U.S. Trade Representative imposed a 25% additional tariff on Brazilian footwear under Section 301 of the Trade Act. The Brazilian Shoe Industry Association (Abicalçados) cut its 2026 export forecast by 7.1%, a 3.5‑point decline from its earlier outlook, warning that the duty undermines the sector’s competitiveness in the U.S. market and harms importers, retailers and American consumers. CEO Haroldo Ferreira said the measure penalises the entire value chain.

In parallel, a Brazil‑Canada trade mission organized by The South Base explored opportunities in Canada’s market of roughly 41.7 million people that purchases about 150 million pairs of shoes each year. Participants visited distributors in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, identified strong demand for comfortable styles such as moccasins and mules, and noted that price, leather quality and long‑term supplier relationships are decisive. The mission concluded that there is significant room for Brazilian brands to expand in Canada.