As noted previously, there has been an upward trend in the production of canvas footwear made by the injection-molded and compres sion-molded processes. The output of such footwear increased from a small part of the total in early 1960 to an estimated half of the total at the present time. It is expected that the output of such footwear will continue its upward trend. Because of the various innovations in construction designed to avoid assessment of the duty on an ASP valuation (see tariff treatment section of this report), the official statistics on imports of canvas footwear, especially during the 1950's and early 1960's, understate the volume of imports of such footwear. During 1950-54, estimated annual imports of canvas footwear averaged about 100,000 pairs. The rate of duty was reduced from 35 percent to 20 percent, effective September 10, 1955. U.S. imports amounted to an estimated 1 million pairs in 1957, and thereafter increased sharply, reaching an estimated 13 million pairs in 1959, 30 million pairs in 1960, and 47 million pairs in 1962. between an estimated 22 million and 30 million pairs in 1964-69 as shown in the following tabulation (in millions of pairs): The share of U.S. consumption of sneakers supplied by imports was about 25 percent in 1962, 11 percent in 1965 and 1966, and 15 percent in each of the years 1967, 1968, and 1969. Total imports of foot Table 3 shows the foregoing estimates of U.S. imports of sneakers in 1964-69 together with imports of all footwear and of the various types specifically mentioned by the petitioners. wear increased about 85 percent from 1964 to 1969. In 1969 imports of sneakers accounted for 9 percent of the total, imports of footwear with uppers of rubber or plastics for 43 percent. It is estimated that imports of footwear of the types retailing currently for less than $6 a pair accounted for about 75 percent of the total imports in both 1964 and 1969. Prices The great bulk of the canvas footwear imported into the United States in recent years has sold at retail in the lower price ranges. In 1969, about two-fifths of the canvas footwear imported was sold for less than $2 a pair; about a third in the $2 to $3 price range; the remainder was sold principally in the $3 to $4 retail price range. Thus, U.S. imports of canvas footwear are sold principally in the same retail price range as "machine-made" domestically-produced sneakers. As indicated in the preceding section, U.S. production of "machine-made" sneakers has increased greatly in the 1960's. Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have been the principal suppliers of canvas footwear. In 1969, such imports from Japan (principally footwear for women and misses) had an average export value of about 85 cents per pair and accounted for about half of the total imports; imports from Taiwan (principally footwear for women, misses, men, and boys) had an average export value of about 45 cents per pair and accounted for about a fourth of the total; and imports from Hong Kong (principally footwear for men and boys) had an average export value of about 60 cents per pair and accounted for most of the remainder. |