Shortly after the tariffs were imposed, the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) expressed its disappointment. “We are deeply disappointed by the Trump Administration’s decision to impose new tariffs on all imports.
This action will particularly affect American fashion brands and retailers. Some of the major suppliers for U.S. imports and the major customers for U.S. exports are targeted with the substantial ‘worst offender’ tariffs,” the association stated.
The USFIA highlighted that the fashion industry relies on global supply chains more than perhaps any other sector of manufactured goods. “For instance, a bale of cotton might be grown in Texas, shipped to Europe to be spun into yarn, sent to Korea for fabric production, then to Vietnam for garment assembly, and finally to the U.S. for retail sale—back in Texas. Additionally, these garments may be sold not only in the U.S. but also in global markets such as Singapore, Japan, Dubai, or London.”
While tariffs can serve as a tool to address unfair trade practices, the USFIA argues that they disproportionately impact the fashion industry.
It pointed out that U.S. imports of textiles and apparel already face some of the highest tariff rates. For example, in 2024, the average tariff on steel was 5%, whereas the average tariff on apparel was 14.6%.
