Texas bootmakers that market their cowboy boots as made in the USA faced higher costs from a 30% tariff on South African goods that took effect Aug. 1, 2025, because their ostrich leather comes from a single South African town, Agence France-Presse reported on July 31, 2025.
One town supplies the leather
Oudtshoorn, about 250 miles east of Cape Town, is known as the world’s ostrich capital. Francois de Wet, managing director of the Cape Karoo International group, told AFP that nearly 200 farmers there produce more than half of global ostrich products, and that 20% of the group’s ostrich leather goes to Texas bootmakers including Lucchese, Justin and Rios of Mercedes. The leather sells for about $20 a square foot.
De Wet said the USA does not have enough ostriches to supply its own leather, and that the bootmakers do “all the value-adding in the United States.” He expected the tariff to be split between exporters, importers and consumers. Lucchese told AFP it was still working out the impact.
“They can’t produce it from local ostriches in the US. They don’t have them.”
Francois de Wet, Cape Karoo International, to AFP
Why it matters for Made in USA
Cowboy boots are a clear case of a product made in the USA that depends on a material the USA cannot supply. When an imported material is a significant part of a product, the FTC’s “all or virtually all” standard calls for a qualified claim.
AFP noted that Justin describes its boots as “made in USA with global parts.” That is the kind of qualified claim the FTC expects when a product is made in the USA from significant imported materials. For brands in a similar spot, an honest qualified label holds up better under scrutiny than an unqualified one.
The tariff also shows that some imports cannot be replaced with domestic supply. Taxing them raises costs for USA makers without bringing production home.
FAQ
Where does cowboy boot ostrich leather come from?
Mostly from Oudtshoorn, South Africa. South Africa supplies about 70% of world ostrich production, according to Cape Karoo International.
What tariff applied?
A 30% USA tariff on South African goods took effect Aug. 1, 2025.
Can boots with imported leather be labeled Made in USA?
Under the FTC standard, a significant imported material like the leather usually requires a qualified claim, such as “made in USA with global parts.”
Source & credit
Originally reported by Agence France-Presse (Clément Varanges) on July 31, 2025, as published by FashionUnited and Barron’s: “Trump tariffs a stone in the shoe of ‘Made in USA’ cowboy boots”