Shoe Company: Obama Admin Pressured Us to Stay Quiet on TPP

Does it truly matter who makes running shoes for the Armed Forces, whether CONUS or OCONUS?

REPORT: The fight comes as a result of a statutory requirement known as the Berry Amendment, which places restrictions on where the items used by members of the armed forces are manufactured. New Balance had hoped their U.S.-made shoes could put an end to the exemption for imported athletic shoes, which the DoD has allowed in recent years. A lifting of the athletic shoe exemption would benefit domestic shoe manufacturers and give New Balance a boost, as it would cut out a broad swath of competitors who only manufacture abroad. The U.S. Trade Representative's office suggested that the Pentagon's procurement process was "separate" and made no comment on the alleged deal.