United States (US) Senator Bill Cassidy, along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, have introduced the ‘Last Sale Valuation Act,’ legislation aimed at closing a long-standing customs loophole that allows importers to underpay duties by declaring goods at artificially low values. The act would require tariffs to be assessed on the final sale value of imported goods rather than earlier transactions in complex overseas supply chains.

“This bill protects Louisiana workers and American businesses, ensuring loopholes don’t hold them back,” Dr Cassidy said in a press release.

US Senators Bill Cassidy and Sheldon Whitehouse have introduced the Last Sale Valuation Act to close the ‘first sale’ customs loophole that lets importers underpay duties.
The bipartisan bill would base tariffs on final sale values, strengthen US Customs enforcement and curb duty evasion.
Supporters say it will protect American manufacturers, workers and federal revenue.

If passed, the bipartisan measure would grant clearer enforcement authority to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), streamline valuation reviews and reduce disputes over documentation, while curbing mis-invoicing and related-party pricing schemes linked to tariff evasion and illicit financial activity.

The legislation has drawn support from the American Compass, the Coalition for a Prosperous America and the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

“Cassidy’s ‘Last Sale Valuation Act’ strengthens customs valuation by assessing duties on the final transaction value of goods entering the US,” said Mark A DiPlacido, senior political economist at the American Compass, adding that closing the judicially created ‘first sale’ loophole would reduce duty evasion, simplify enforcement and increase customs revenue.

Jon Toomey, president of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, said the bill is “an important first step in restoring customs integrity,” ensuring duties are paid on the true commercial value of imported goods and helping level the playing field for American manufacturers and workers.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (CG)

American sports equipment company Brooks Running closed 2025 with record-breaking global revenue, achieving a 16 per cent increase year-over-year and extending its track record to nine consecutive years of growth. Regional performance remained strong with 13 per cent growth in North America (NA), 22 per cent in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and 66 per cent in Asia Pacific and Latin America (APLA) where China sales increased 245 per cent. These results contribute to a 14 per cent compound annual growth rate over a nearly 25-year growth period, reflecting Brooks’ disciplined focus on performance innovation for runners since 2001.

“Running continues to gain extraordinary momentum around the world as more people choose movement as part of their approach to health and wellness,” said Dan Sheridan, Brooks CEO. “Our opportunity ahead is incredibly exciting and I have great confidence in the entire Brooks global team. Following a record 2025, we enter 2026 energised by the innovations and programmes we’ll deliver to runners and retailers worldwide.”

Brooks Running closed 2025 with record global revenue, up 16 per cent year-over-year, marking its ninth straight year of growth.
Strong gains came from North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific–Latin America, led by a surge in China.
Growth was driven by performance innovation, strong footwear sales, and new lifestyle collections and collaborations.

In EMEA in 2025, the performance running footwear market grew 14 per cent in France and 21 per cent in Germany with Brooks outpacing both 22 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively, the company said in a press release.

In 2025, ten Brooks footwear styles posted year-over-year revenue growth of 20 per cent or more. The Glycerin series, featuring Brooks’ new DNA Tuned midsole foam, delivered 33 per cent revenue growth and a 27 per cent increase in unit sales year over year, accelerated by a 46 per cent year-over-year revenue surge in Q4.

At Paris Fashion Week in January 2025, Brooks unveiled its new lifestyle footwear collection, which celebrates the brand’s 112-year heritage as a leader in sport and answers customer desire for performance-inspired silhouettes to wear on and off the run. Brooks partnered with streetwear pioneers and visionaries to launch multiple sought-after collaborations including the Brooks x STAPLE Adrenaline GTS 4 with New York-based Jeff Staple and the Brooks x RSVP Gallery Caldera 8 with the renowned Don C.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)