Even 190% Tariffs Can’t Shake US Shoemaker’s Reliance on China

When an $80,000 tariff bill landed on her desk in May, Haley Pavone did what many small business owners might do: she froze hiring and added an online checkout fee to help cover the cost.

Pavone, founder of California-based Pashion Footwear, which imports shoes from China, hasn’t moved production out of the country. Not because she hasn’t tried, but because, like many, it wasn’t a viable option.

Since President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods after returning to office, Pavone has scouted factories in Brazil, India and Vietnam.

Haley Pavone

Source: Pashion Footwear

But she quickly ran into problems: they all required ...