US EditionTariffs drive US clothing imports from China to 22-year low in May
UNITED STATES, JUL 9 – U.S. tariffs reaching 145% in April cut clothing imports from China by nearly 25% in Q2, boosting sourcing from Southeast Asia and Mexico, auditing firm QIMA reported.
- In May 2025, U.S. apparel imports from China declined to $556 million, marking the smallest monthly total since May 2003, amid escalating tariffs and shifting trade policies.
- This decline follows sharp tariff increases under President Trump, including duties raised to as high as 145%, and the removal of the de minimis exemption for China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025.
- As a result, U.S. retailers have shifted sourcing toward Southeast Asia and Mexico, with Vietnam, Bangladesh, and India gaining larger market shares as companies diversify away from Chinese factories.
- A $20 dress subject to a 54% ad valorem tariff now costs $30.80, illustrating how import duties have substantially increased the price of fast fashion items that were previously free of such taxes.
- These trade shifts imply enduring changes in supply chains and may increase challenges for procurement, with fast fashion expected to become even costlier and U.S. sourcing strategies staying volatile.
18 Articles
18 Articles
How tariffs are reshaping fast fashion without fixing its global harms
President Trump’s trade war has slowed sales at Chinese fast-fashion giants like Shein and Temu, but the industry’s labor abuses and environmental toll remain entrenched and globally dispersed.Elizabeth Cline reports for The Atlantic.In short:Tariffs on Chinese goods have hurt some fast-fashion retailers, but the industry is shifting production and expanding to new markets rather than shrinking.Labor violations and pollution are widespread acros…
The Conversation
Idaho PressThat $20 dress direct from China now costs $30 after Trump closed a tariff loophole – and the US will soon end the ‘de minimis’ exemption for the rest of the world, too
Fast fashion got a lot pricier for Americans this spring – and it’ll likely get even more expensive in 2027. That’s because the Trump administration has been rolling back a little-known feature of U.S. customs law that for years had allowed retailers to ship packages duty-free to U.S. shoppers – as long as each shipment was valued under US$800. Known as the “de minimis” exception, this rule had helped keep prices low on Chinese e-commerce platfo…
U.S. Apparel Imports from China Hit 22-Year Low Amid Tariff Tensions
U.S. apparel imports from China dropped to a 22-year low in May due to increasing tariffs. Retailers shifted sourcing to countries like Vietnam and India. Despite a trade deal, many U.S. companies continue reducing reliance on China, with Southeast Asia's market stake growing significantly.
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