Watching the Olympics closing ceremony in Rio on Aug. 21, we felt a swelling sense of national pride. With 46 gold medals and 121 total medals — more than any other nation — the United States is a winner in the pool, on the mats, on the courts and around the track.
But over the past several weeks, we were also reminded that the United States is not a winner when it comes to trade, especially for clothing and footwear.
Our strong, diverse athletes owe their success to hard work and discipline.
They also got a little boost from innovative Under Armour leotards, Brooks track spikes and Oakley sunglasses — not to mention the iconic Ralph Lauren blazers, which evoked casual American elegance during the opening ceremony, and high-tech NikeLab jackets, which kept our athletes cool while collecting their medals.
The clothing and footwear enjoyed by U.S. athletes and consumers would not be possible without global supply chains. Today, there are more than 4 million U.S. jobs in apparel and footwear that depend on our ability to move goods around the world.
These supply chains ensure the majority of the value of every pair of shoes and article of clothing sold in America is produced here in America, and that the U.S. remains the world leader in innovation.
During the Olympics, we are often reminded of the innovation that drives our industries — for example, the Nike Flyknit debut during the 2012 London games, the use of 3D printing to engineer better running shoes for Rio, lighter cleats, more breathable fabrics for soccer and basketball uniforms and sunglasses designed to reduce the effects of wind.
Yet this clothing and footwear comes at a high price. While the U.S. government taxes all products that cross the U.S. border at just 1.4 percent on average, it places import taxes averaging 11 percent on footwear and 13 percent percent on apparel.
This limits the ability of American companies to innovate and drives up the cost of shoes and clothes for hardworking individuals and families.
Meanwhile, for the first time in recent memory, the presidential candidates of both major political parties have stepped out of bounds on free trade and specifically the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
This despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of millennial voters support free trade, and passing TPP would allow companies like Ralph Lauren and Nike to lower costs in their supply chains — and devote more resources to technical innovations and quality jobs in design, logistics, marketing and retail in the United States.
“The Olympic Movement unites all people and builds bridges between all cultures,” proclaims the International Olympic Committee. International trade does, too.
Trade agreements are not only good for American brands and American jobs, but they also foster the global unity and prosperity that we see during the Olympics, as we join with competing nations to do business.
We urge Congress to pass the TPP — and we urge all lawmakers and candidates to show support for free trade like we show support for our athletes. The TPP, and trade generally, can be a win-win for the United States and our trading partners.
Julia K. Hughes is president of the United States Fashion Industry Association. Matt Priest is president of the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
