The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) has expressed strong opposition to the Trump Administration’s recent decision to implement extensive new tariffs on all imports, cautioning that this action will disproportionately affect American fashion brands, retailers, and families.
These new tariffs, some of which target key US trading partners with punitive ‘worst offender’ rates, are anticipated to disrupt global supply chains, which are vital to the fashion industry. Industry leaders emphasize that few sectors rely as heavily on international manufacturing networks as fashion does. A single garment may traverse several borders before reaching the retail market: for instance, cotton grown in Texas might be spun in Europe, woven in Korea, assembled in Vietnam, and ultimately sold back in Texas or in global markets such as Singapore, Japan, Dubai, or London.
“While tariffs can serve as a tool to address unfair trade practices, they disproportionately affect the fashion industry,” the USFIA stated in a press release. “US imports of textiles and apparel face some of the highest tariff rates. For instance, in 2024, the average tariff on steel was only 5%, whereas the average tariff on apparel skyrocketed to 14.6%.” The US Fashion Tariffs Impact highlights the stark contrast in how different industries are treated, ultimately hurting American consumers.
The implications of these tariffs extend beyond businesses; they also burden American consumers, particularly those from lower-income households. These families allocate a larger share of their income to clothing and footwear, making them more vulnerable to the current tariff system. For example, a luxury cashmere sweater incurs a 4% tariff, while a less expensive acrylic sweater is taxed at 32%.
Additionally, women are disproportionately impacted due to what experts describe as the ‘pink tax,’ where women’s and unisex clothing are taxed at higher rates than men’s apparel. Research from the US International Trade Commission indicates that US households paid $2.77 billion more in tariffs on women’s apparel compared to men’s in recent years.
Despite the significant tariffs—including $13.2 billion collected by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2024, which accounted for 16.6% of all tariffs, and an additional $2.48 billion in Section 301 remedies for textiles and apparel—reshoring has yet to occur. Currently, only 3% of apparel sold in the US is manufactured domestically, a figure that has remained relatively unchanged.
The USFIA is urging the President and trade officials to reassess these tariffs and seek solutions that reduce costs for both businesses and families. “We encourage the President and Administration trade officials to reconsider these tariffs and prioritize support for American families and companies through lower costs and the advantages of trade,” the association concluded, reiterating how the US Fashion Tariffs Impact can be detrimental to the industry and everyday consumers alike.
