Footwear Industry Sources See Different Impact Of New Balance TPP Opposition

Footwear industry representatives are divided on whether New Balance's decision to fight the Trans-Pacific Partnership could impact its prospects for congressional passage, though sources on both sides of the debate acknowledged that the company has vocal allies in Congress. Matt Priest, president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), which supports the TPP agreement, said in an April 19 interview that he does not think New Balance's opposition will have any impact on congressional approval. He argued that...