US Tariffs: Canada Protects Steel Industry From Competitive Pressure

LEFASO General Secretary Phan Thi Thanh Xuan said that due to major changes in tariff policies, market diversification is one of the goals of the Government as well as the footwear industry.

Visitors to the Vietnam booth discuss with representatives of footwear businesses

In the context of tariffs changing the dynamics of global trade, forcing countries to seek ways to diversify their markets to reduce dependence on a single place, the Vietnamese and Canadian footwear industries are looking to establish a cooperative relationship through the 2025 Canadian Apparel and Footwear Fair (AFA) in Toronto, which brings together 20 Vietnamese enterprises and hundreds of large enterprises in the host country's footwear industry.

Vietnamese businesses attended this year's fair under a joint program between the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO), the National Trade Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada.

This is also the first time that the largest fair of the footwear and accessories industry in Canada has welcomed Vietnamese businesses representing the fields of footwear, handbags, raw materials and related services.

Speaking to a VNA reporter in Canada, Secretary General of the Apparel and Footwear Association (AFA) of Canada Michelle Kofman emphasized the benefits of Vietnamese businesses participating in the fair, including exchanging experiences. This is the first time AFA has invited Vietnamese businesses to participate.

Ms. Kofman assessed that this is an opportunity for the footwear and accessories industry, including manufacturers and retailers, to understand the scale and depth of footwear production in Vietnam.

She stressed that developments in the US are forcing other countries to reduce their over-reliance on this market. Currently, many Canadian businesses, including footwear businesses, also want to diversify markets outside the US.

Within the framework of the fair, the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada coordinated with LEFASO and AFA Canada to organize a workshop, with the hope of helping footwear businesses of both sides better understand and make good use of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans -Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to bring goods to each other's markets, as well as markets in the region.

LEFASO General Secretary Phan Thi Thanh Xuan said that due to major changes in tariff policies, market diversification is one of the goals of the Government as well as the footwear industry.

According to Ms. Xuan, the North American market accounts for more than 40% of the total export turnover of the footwear industry and is also an important market. Although the US is the largest market, there are still Canada and Mexico, which are markets in the CPTPP bloc, and are also potential markets.

Promoting export growth to markets with advantages from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is one of the goals of the leather and footwear industry.

Participating in the AFA Canada Fair this year, along with trade promotion activities and partner search to expand the market of the Vietnamese footwear industry, is in line with the Prime Minister's direction on flexible and effective adaptation to the US's reciprocal tax policy.

These activities are also to implement Resolution 226/NQ-CP dated August 5, 2025 on growth targets for sectors, fields, localities and key tasks and solutions to ensure the country's growth in 2025 reaches 8.3-8.5%.

Ms. Tran Thu Quynh, Vietnam Trade Counselor in Canada, said this is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses because leather, footwear and handbags in general are among the 10 most important export items of Vietnam to the region, with a turnover of up to nearly 1 billion USD in 2024.

With this growth rate, export turnover is expected to soon exceed the 1 billion USD mark in 2025, as this is still an important market for the Vietnamese footwear industry.

AFA Canada is one of the most prestigious and largest footwear, fashion and accessories trade shows in North America.

The fair attracts hundreds of global brands, international buyers, retail chains and manufacturing and design units from many countries.

This will be an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to access the Canadian market, a market with large consumption capacity and a gateway to penetrate deep into the North American region.

(VNA)

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202508/thue-quan-cua-my-canada-bao-ve-nganh-thep-truoc-suc-ep-canh-tranh-069152f/