Fearing Trump’s China tariffs may never end, companies are taking action

The apparel and footwear industry dodged the worst of the first round of tariffs only to see products such as backpacks, handbags, gloves and coats caught in the latest salvo.

Some retailers have begun the lengthy process of switching their orders from Chinese factories to suppliers in other Asian countries, said Rick Helfenbein, president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association.

“This is going to be a fact of life for the next 10 or 20 years,” he said. “Once you go, you don’t go back.”

The corporate shifts come amid evidence of accumulating economic damage. U.S. exports to China have dropped for four consecutive months compared with 2017 figures, according to the Commerce Department. Through the first 11 months of last year, the United States ran up a record $382 billion trade deficit — larger than the 12-month figure for 2017.