USFIA - United States Fashion Industry Association

Understanding Import Tariffs Under WTO Law

The European Parliamentary Research Service published an At A Glance report on understanding import tariffs under WTO law. The report includes information about multilateral tariff negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the principle of setting tariff ceilings in WTO embers’ individual tariff schedules, and most-favored nation tariff concessions and exemptions. We share the table below showing examples of bound tariff and MFN tariff rates:

EU WTO tariff chart

USFIA and Companies Discuss Impact of Tariffs on Industry and Consumers in Advance of USTR Hearing

Today, USFIA President Julia Hughes is scheduled to testify during the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s hearing on the proposed tariffs on approximately $200 billion worth of Chinese products under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. She will testify on a panel with the National Retail Federation (NRF), China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles, and Jo-Ann Stores, LLC, among others. Her testimony as prepared for delivery is available here.

Joann Stores has launched a campaign to stop the “Made in America Tax” (@made_tax), the proposed tariffs on fabrics and craft supplies. In addition, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has started a #nobabytariffs campaign on social media and are using the following graphic. We encourage companies to engage on social media if possible.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Hughes spoke to National Public Radio’s Marketplace about the impact of tariffs on fashion products, particularly the impact on consumers. You can hear the entire interview at https://www.marketplace.org/2018/08/22/business/fate-fashion-trade-war

USFIA Asks Congress to Intervene on Tariffs

The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) joined a multi-industry association letter to Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee leadership to express concern about U.S. trade policy, specifically “the growing willingness of the current Administration to use tariffs (and the related use of absolute import quotas) as a major policy tool in an increasing number of trade disputes with our allies.” The letter asks Congress to “to consider a robust congressional response to the Administration’s actions. We strongly support increased congressional oversight by your Committees, the holding of expeditious hearings on the President’s use of delegated trade authority, and consideration of whether amendments to existing delegations of authority are necessary to clarify Congress’ important role in the execution of the nation’s trade policy.” The letter is available here.

USFIA criticises Trump decision to impose tariffs

United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) has spoken out against the Trump Administration decision to initiate process to impose 301 tariffs on clothing, home textiles and footwear. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., USFIA is the voice of the fashion industry in front of the US government as well as international governments and stakeholders.

Read our full statement on Knitting Industry's website.

USFIA Files Post-Hearing Comments on 301 Tariffs

On May 22nd, the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) filed post-hearing rebuttal comments in support of omitting fashion and apparel products from the proposed list of products subject to increased duties under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Our comments provide more information on industry sourcing trends and how sourcing in China and Asia supports jobs in the United States. The comments are available here.

We also joined comments signed by 52 associations representing U.S. manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, retailers, technology companies, importers, exporters, and other supply chain stakeholders expressing concerns about the use of tariffs to address China’s unfair trading practices. The comments are available here.

The U.S. Global Value Chain Coalition (USGVC) also filed comments, available here.

Finally, more than 50 fashion brands and retailers, including many USFIA members, filed comments, as well, available here.

USFIA Files Post-Hearing Comments on Third List of China 301 Tariffs

Following the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s hearing in August on the third proposed list of $200 billion in tariffs, the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) filed comments urging the Administration to remove certain apparel products and consumer goods from the list.

“The Administration has proposed tariffs on many items manufactured and sold by USFIA members, which will have a direct impact on American consumers, especially during the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons,” we said. “Of particular concern to USFIA’s member companies and consumers are the proposed tariffs on hats and headwear in HTSUS Chapter 65; luggage and handbags in Chapters 42 and 46; leather and faux leather apparel and products in Chapter 42; and lamps and furniture in Chapter 94. Our members also have concerns about the proposed tariffs on cookware in Chapter 73; picture frames in Chapter 83; plastic articles including rainwear and hangers in Chapter 39; certain electrical equipment including vacuum cleaners and television sets in Chapter 85; paper products in Chapter 48; articles of wood including jewelry boxes in Chapter 44; aluminum products including sanitary ware in Chapter 76; feathers used for stuffing and down in Chapter 5; textile products including felt and nonwovens and certain yarns in Chapter 56; and specialty textile products including embroidery in Chapter 58.”

The comments explain how the tariffs will harm consumers and jobs in the United States, while doing nothing to solve the IPR challenges with China; furthermore, the tariffs will actually discourage sourcing and manufacturing within the United States. The comments are available here.

In addition, USFIA joined multi-industry comments from a coalition of more than 150 trade associations representing U.S. retailers, manufacturers, farmers, technology companies, natural gas and oil companies and other industries. “Our organizations agree that longstanding issues in China have negatively impacted many U.S. companies, and we support the administration’s efforts to negotiate meaningful, binding and long-term solutions with the Chinese government, (but) applying these high levels of tariffs on Chinese products will continue to miss the mark,” we said.

USFIA joined additional comments from apparel, soft-goods, and retail associations, as well, available here.

USFIA Files Post-Hearing Comments on Third List of China 301 Tariffs

Washington, D.C. -- Following the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s hearing in August on the third proposed list of $200 billion in tariffs, the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) filed comments urging the Administration to remove certain apparel products and consumer goods from the list.

“The Administration has proposed tariffs on many items manufactured and sold by USFIA members, which will have a direct impact on American consumers, especially during the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons,” we said. “Of particular concern to USFIA’s member companies and consumers are the proposed tariffs on hats and headwear in HTSUS Chapter 65; luggage and handbags in Chapters 42 and 46; leather and faux leather apparel and products in Chapter 42; and lamps and furniture in Chapter 94. Our members also have concerns about the proposed tariffs on cookware in Chapter 73; picture frames in Chapter 83; plastic articles including rainwear and hangers in Chapter 39; certain electrical equipment including vacuum cleaners and television sets in Chapter 85; paper products in Chapter 48; articles of wood including jewelry boxes in Chapter 44; aluminum products including sanitary ware in Chapter 76; feathers used for stuffing and down in Chapter 5; textile products including felt and nonwovens and certain yarns in Chapter 56; and specialty textile products including embroidery in Chapter 58.”

The comments explain how the tariffs will harm consumers and jobs in the United States, while doing nothing to solve the IPR challenges with China; furthermore, the tariffs will actually discourage sourcing and manufacturing within the United States.

The comments are available here.

To speak with an expert from USFIA, contact USFIA VP of Communications Samantha Sault at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or 301-529-1451.

USFIA Joins 100+ Trade Groups on Letter on 301 Tariffs

The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) joined more than 100 trade associations in a letter to the House Ways & Means Committee expressing concern about the Section 301 tariffs. The letter is available here, and the Wall Street Journal reported on the letter here. The committee is holding a hearing on the tariffs today; we’ll provide any relevant updates to members after the hearing.

USFIA Joins More than 30 U.S. Trade Associations Asking the Biden Administration to End Trump Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, in a letter to President Biden USFIA joined 32 other U.S. trade associations representing a wide range of sectors--from fashion to manufacturing, agriculture and consumer products-- calling for an end to the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. The letter comes as President Biden arrives in Europe for discussions with the G7 and major trading partners.

Since their inception in 2018, the 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum have caused supply disruptions and price fluctuations for some of the most critical inputs used by U.S. manufacturers, effectively handing a competitive advantage to overseas producers and raising costs for U.S. companies that rely on steel and aluminum products. In addition, retaliatory tariffs against U.S. exports put in place by traditional trade allies have hurt a wide range U.S. exports, including fashion products.

“These tariffs continue to hurt small, family-owned businesses and the communities in which they built their companies, while fracturing relations with overseas trading partners and spurring a frenzy of retaliatory trade measures against both related and unrelated industries,” the 33 trade associations write. “The restriction on the supply of goods and raw materials resulting from the tariffs has sent a ripple throughout downstream industries, disrupting supply chains and threatening the economic security of American workers. Our members rely on the movement of their goods and inputs without [[constant]] government intervention that causes delivery delays and arbitrary price spikes,” the letter continues. You can read the full letter here.

For press inquiries please contact Shannon Brady, Communications Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

USFIA Joins Multi-Industry Comments on 301 Tariffs

In advance of next week’s hearing, United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) has joined two multi-industry comments filed with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. One led by a group of soft-goods industry trade associations expresses “very strong opposition to any tariff increases on U.S. imports of consumer products, such as clothing, shoes, home goods, fashion accessories, or travel goods from China.” Another includes dozens of apparel, retail, agriculture, electronics, automobile, tech, and other industries who say the tariffs “will not effectively advance our shared goal of changing these harmful Chinese practices in a durable, verifiable, and enforceable manner.” USFIA will be filing our own comments today, which we’ll share with members next week.

USFIA Joins Soft Goods Industry Letter to Trump on 301 Tariffs

The U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) joined several soft-goods industry groups in sending a letter to President Trump opposing “tariff increases on U.S. imports of consumer products, such as clothing, shoes, home goods, fashion accessories, or travel goods from China.” The letter is available here. According to multiple reports, President Trump is expected to impose up to $60 billion in new tariffs on products from China on Friday; some sources say there may be a public comment period, but it’s not entirely clear. The steel and aluminum tariffs are set to go into effect on March 23, just 15 days after President Donald Trump signed the proclamations, without such a comment period.

USFIA Member Strategy Call: Next Steps on China Tariffs

USFIA President Julie Hughes, USFIA Washington Counsel David Spooner, and Christine Berghofer and Tom Kukanza of USFIA's Premier Partner PwC discussed the impact of the tariffs on the industry, the potential for more retaliatory tariffs on imports from China, and strategies for companies to respond to the tariffs.

USFIA Participates in Documentary on Tariffs & Trade

This month, The Federalist Society, a prominent conservative and libertarian legal non-profit think tank in Washington, D.C., produced a short documentary, Fashion & Free Trade: Questions About Globalism, Tariffs, & Trade, featuring USFIA President Julia Hughes and USFIA Washington Counsel David Spooner, as well as NCTO’s Auggie Tantillo. The documentary has been widely shared and well received among pro-trade influencers in Washington, D.C. You can watch the documentary here.

USFIA Requests Exclusion Process for Tariffs on $200 Billion in Goods

The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) joined with Americans for Free Trade in sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requesting an exclusion process for the most recent wave of tariffs on $200 billion in goods. While an exclusion process was provided to American businesses for the nearly $50 billion in previously announced tariffs (Lists 1 and 2), the administration has said that no similar process will be provided on the most recent tariffs on $200 billion (List 3) in goods that went into effect Monday, September 24, 2018. The letter is available here.

USFIA rues decision to start process to impose 301 Tariffs

Responding to the US decision to initiate the process to impose 301 Tariffs on apparel and footwear, the US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) said the tariff lines that are now threatened with additional tariffs up to 25 per cent include products that are already highly taxed. Clothing and shoes for US citizens are currently taxed more than $15 billion per year.

Read the full article on Fibre2Fashion.

USFIA Speaks Out Against Trump Administration Decision to Initiate Process to Impose 301 Tariffs on Clothing, Home Textiles and Footwear

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After months of anxiety and carefully watching the latest Twitter attacks, this week the Trump Administration declared war on American consumers. Until now the Administration has argued that the tariffs on China were just a tool to keep the pressure on during trade talks that were going to cover everything from stopping counterfeits to revising the entire economic system in China. There might be some tough times for certain industries, and definitely tough times for American farmers, but – so the story went – there was the promise of substantial growth in exports and more regulation of forced technology transfers and IPR violations.

But that all changed yesterday with the announcement that the Trump Administration is planning to put 25% tariffs on ALL imports from China. In the notice released by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative there are 135 pages of tariff lines that are now threatened with additional tariffs up to 25 percent. These tariffs are a tax that will be paid by American companies and ultimately by American consumers. A recent study commissioned by Tariffs Hurt the Heartland estimates that imposing tariffs of 25 percent on these imports from China, combined with the impact of retaliation, cost the average U.S. family of four nearly $2,300 each year. Plus the economic impact would jeopardize more than 2 million American jobs.

What policy-makers seem to be forgetting is that many of these products are already highly taxed. Clothing and shoes for American families are currently taxed more than $15 billion per year. And these tariffs already are extremely high -- tariffs on clothing can be as high as 32 percent. Tariffs are a direct tax on the American consumer—and will affect consumers at all income levels, from the single parent struggling to make ends meet as they purchase back-to-school necessities for their kids, to the consumer of high-end fashion manufactured in the United States, and every American family in between.

These tariffs on imports of clothing, home textiles and footwear will do little to punish China for its intellectual property and technology transfer practices but do a lot to harm American fashion brands and retailers as well as consumers of their products. Let’s work together to find a solution that does not use American companies and American families as the hostages to a trade deal.

USFIA Speaks Out Against Trump Administration Decision To Initiate Process To Impose 301 Tariffs On Clothing, Home Textiles And Footwear

USFIA speaks out against the Trump Administration's decision to initiate the process to impose 301 tariffs on clothing, home textiles, and footwear.

Read our full statement on Textile World's website here.

USFIA Statement on Canada and Mexico Tariffs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 4, 2025

We are disappointed that the Trump Administration moved forward to impose new tariffs on our major trading partners. These tariffs ignore the complex Western Hemisphere supply chains and close trade ties created by textile and apparel companies during the more than 30 years since a regional free trade agreement first went into effect.

The “Made in” label only tells part of a garment’s story. The journey of a simple cotton t-shirt is complex -- from design and production to logistics and distribution. The Western Hemisphere’s apparel and textile supply chain is deeply intertwined and retaliation will hurt Americans -especially farmers, retailers and consumers. For example U.S. cotton supplies about 60% of Mexico’s textile production needs, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. U.S. government data also shows that in 2024, $3.1 billion (or 3%) of U.S. apparel imports came from our USMCA partners, Canada and Mexico.

Apparel and textile products already face some of the highest tariff rates of any U.S. imports, reaching as high as 32%. There will be a major impact on costs and inflation from the 20% additional tariffs on imports from China. China is the top supplier of apparel to the U.S. consumer. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, American businesses and consumers have already paid $220 billion in additional tariffs under the China Section 301 from the first Trump Administration.

We urge the President and Administration trade officials to reconsider these tariffs and focus on supporting American families and American companies with lower costs and the benefits of trade.

USFIA Media Contact:
Stephanie Gauzens
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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About the United States Fashion Industry Association

The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) is dedicated to fashion made possible by global trade. USFIA represents textile and apparel brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally; working to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede the industry’s ability to trade freely and create economic opportunities in the United States and abroad with the goal of doing what we can to make the world a better place for our customers, our colleagues, and our suppliers.

USFIA Statement on Potential 301 Tariffs

The threat to fashion brands and retailers—and the consumers who love them—heightens as the Trump Administration considers new tariffs on products from China, which could potentially include clothing, shoes, accessories, and home textiles.

The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) has joined with business groups in many sectors, including fashion, footwear, retail, and tech, in sending letters to President Donald Trump urging him to reconsider the expected broad-based remedy tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. (Click here to read both letters.)

In case we weren’t clear the first time, while we support efforts to protect the intellectual property of brands and retailers, we will never support punitive tariffs based on the fiction that imports harm domestic jobs and growth. These new tariffs will not create more jobs in the United States, but instead, will harm the companies that already create thousands upon thousands of high-quality jobs in design, in marketing, in retail, in logistics, in compliance, right here in the United States.

And these tariffs will absolutely harm American consumers, who will face higher prices on the clothes, shoes, home products, and other essentials.

To reiterate, tariffs are not the way to support American companies and jobs, and definitely not the way to participate in the global economy. We urge the Trump Administration to consider the implications of these tariffs, and at the very least, consult with American brands and retailers before taking this egregious step.

USFIA Tells Trump Administration Raising Tariffs on China Imports Will Only Hurt American Companies and Consumers

Washington, D.C -Yesterday, the USFIA submitted comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in response to the September 3, 2019 announcement that the Trump Administration would further ramp up tariffs on consumer goods (as part of the Section 301 case against China). In the comments, USFIA President Julia K. Hughes urges the Trump Administration to remove allapparel products and consumer goods from the list of products subject to tariff increases under this Section 301 case. “It is time to end the trade war now,” says USFIA President Julia K. Hughes.

USFIA has seen the negative impact that tariffs are having on American consumers and business. Our members, representing brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers in the US who provide fashion for American consumers, as well as high quality jobs in the US, have already spoken out about the way these tariffs have negatively affected them. According to the USFIA’s 2019 Benchmarking Survey, “companies across the United States said they are very worried about rising costs, and they are feeling less optimistic about the outlook for the fashion industry; a direct link to the 301 action against China.”

USFIA emphasized the urgency of the tariff situation to USTR as layoffs and company closures loom ahead for some companies. “These additional tariffs do not address China’s unfair trade practices and instead are causing harm to the U.S. economy. We support face-to-face negotiations to end the trade war and instead focus on serious and enforceable trade agreements with China to resolve these issues.”

We know that fashion is only made possible by global trade. USFIA has asked USTR to support American consumers, businesses, and the creation of high-quality jobs in the U.S. by supporting global trade.