An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Nike, new balance highlight thorny issues in trade talks” (October 7, 2013), describes the disagreement between Nike and New balance regarding the 10% US tariff on shoes made in Vietnam. The tariff impacts Nike’s imports but are supported by New Balance, with plants in Maine. Vietnam, a member of the Trans Pacific Partnership, wants the tariff eliminated, as does Nike, which has a lot of manufacturing in Vietnam. But New Balance claims these tariffs make their Maine plant competitive. How should the competing claims by these shoe manufacturers be balanced ? Should the supply chain costs and their impact on customer prices dominate any benefits to local job creation ?