What shoes have to do with Washington's aluminum fight

Shoes and aluminum may sound unrelated

But when you break down what goes into a modern sneaker or boot, aluminum actually plays a role. It’s used in midsoles, support shanks, eyelets, lace tips, and even in some of the performance parts that go into athletic or hiking gear. And now with U.S. tariffs on aluminum imports jumping to 50 percent for most countries, that’s starting to show up in higher prices and tighter margins for shoemakers. Even if it’s a small piece of the overall product, the cost ripple is real.