It's true that the TPP, by making it easier to import goods to the U.S., could create an environment in which Made-in-U.S.A. products in are even harder to make and sell to the people of the United States. That's problematic for a number of reasons, like job creation and the environment (shipping stuff from China isn't exactly eco-friendly). And frankly, the TPP seems to be generally not great for a ton of reasons (chief among them that we have no idea what it actually says). So as far as criticism of the treaty in general goes, New Balance may have a point.

However, as far as "Made-in-U.S.A." products are concerned, in 2014 the Wall Street Journal discovered that while 25% of New Balance's shoes sold in the U.S. don the "Made-in-U.S.A." tag, "That only about 70% of the value of its U.S.-made shoes reflects domestic content and labor." New Balance is pretty open about this fact, including the fact that many of its shoes outsoles, for instance, are imported from China. The Federal Trade Commission didn't see it as quite so simple. "We look at the New Balance shoe case [as it pertains to their "Made-in-U.S.A. tags] as clear proof that the federal law is not being enforced," Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California, told the Journal. We don't doubt that New Balance has a vested interest in its employees, especially the ones who are based in the United States. But here's the simple truth: Most of its shoes are made in China, and five percent are made in Vietnam. Update: Additionally, The New Yorker noted in September that a decrease in tariffs on imported sneakers has the potential to make shoes cheaper for U.S. customers and also gives brands more capital to open new, more innovative factories here in the U.S.. (See: Adidas's new Speedfactory in Atlanta, which will open in 2017.) As unfortunate as it is, the factories like the ones New Balances uses are employing Americans, but they're outdated.

So does the sneaker brand seem to have a genuine interest in supporting Donald Trump? Not really. But truth is, Donald Trump has just said he's anti-TPP. No one, New Balance included, has any idea how he plans to dismantle a 29-nation treaty should President Obama be able to pass it. Given his track record as a businessman (questionable) and as a politician (non-existent), we hope New Balance isn't holding its breath.

Update (November 11, 5:08 PM):

We reached out to New Balance to clarify their earlier statements. The statement reads:

"As the only major company that still makes athletic shoes in the United States, New Balance has a unique perspective on trade in that we want to make more shoes in the United States, not less. New Balance publicly supported the trade positions of Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump prior to election day that focused on American manufacturing job creation and we continue to support them today. We believe in community.

We believe in humanity. From the people who make our shoes to the people who wear them, we believe in acting with the utmost integrity and we welcome all walks of life. Since 1906, we have carved our own path in being passionately committed to making things at our five factories in New England, even when nobody else did. New Balance and our thousands of employees around the world constantly strive to better our local communities. We always have and we always will."

Given the vague nature of that response, we asked the following questions for clarification: