Tariffs drive US clothing imports from China to 22-year low in May | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
July 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025
Tariffs drive US clothing imports from China to 22-year low in May

World+Biz

Reuters
10 July, 2025, 10:15 am
Last modified: 10 July, 2025, 05:11 pm

Related News

  • Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
  • Rubio to meet China's foreign minister in Malaysia as US-Chinese tensions mount
  • 35% tariff: Bangladesh, US 'reach general consensus on some issues' on second day of talks; final round today
  • China, Canada commit to deeper engagement with Bangladesh on trade, humanitarian assistance
  • US remains Bangladesh’s top export destination

Tariffs drive US clothing imports from China to 22-year low in May

Reuters
10 July, 2025, 10:15 am
Last modified: 10 July, 2025, 05:11 pm
Employees work on the production line at a garment factory in Panyu district of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China April 1, 2025. Photo: REUTERS
Employees work on the production line at a garment factory in Panyu district of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China April 1, 2025. Photo: REUTERS

Highlights

  • US imported $556 million worth clothing from China in May, down from $796 million in April - data
  • US apparel imports from Mexico rose 12% in May from year earlier - data

The value of apparel imports from China to the US fell in May to its lowest monthly level in 22 years, according to latest trade data, highlighting the impact of steep US tariffs.

China has for years been the biggest exporter of clothes to the US, but its share of the US apparel market has fallen as trade relations between the world's two biggest economies soured.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

US President Donald Trump ratcheted tariffs up to as much as 145% in April, driving more US retailers to reduce purchases from Chinese factories in favor of Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, and elsewhere.

"The sharp decline in US apparel imports from China in May 2025 was anything but natural," said Sheng Lu, professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware.

The US imported $556 million worth of clothing from China in May, down from $796 million in April, and the fourth straight month of declines, according to US International Trade Commission (USITC) data. The last time monthly imports were lower than that was May 2003.

Earlier in the year, anticipating Trump's tariffs, US retailers stocked up: the value of apparel imports from China in January was $1.69 billion, up 15% from the $1.47 billion a year earlier.

Despite a recent trade deal between the US and China, most leading US fashion companies still plan to reduce their China exposure further, if not totally move out of the country, Lu said.

The same pattern is visible in demand from US retailers for factory inspections. Auditing firm QIMA said its data, based on thousands of inspections and audits worldwide, shows US sourcing from China fell by nearly a quarter in the second quarter from a year earlier, while demand in Southeast Asia grew 29%.

Another early winner was Mexico, according to the USITC data. In May the US imported $259 million worth of apparel from its southern neighbor, up 12% from a year ago.

QIMA said in its note that the shift out of China is not new and Southeast Asia's share of US sourcing has been steadily growing since mid 2023.

"While the US administration's tariff policies took several sharp turns during Q2 2025, the procurement patterns of US-based brands and retailers have stayed largely within the bounds of long-standing trends established before this year's escalation," QIMA said.

The coming months may put US supply chains to a new test, QIMA said, as the temporary pause on tariffs for most non-China countries will soon expire, coinciding with the kick-off of holiday season procurement.

Graph: Reuters
Graph: Reuters

Top News

China / US / Apparel

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image
    In addition to 35% tariff, US demands 40% local value addition for 'Made in Bangladesh' goods
  • Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
    Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
  • Photo: Courtesy
    4 arrested, 2 remanded over brutal killing of trader near Mitford Hospital

MOST VIEWED

  • In terms of stream of education, girls maintained their excellence as well. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: Girls dominate boys by over 5%
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    SSC, equivalent results: Pass rate drops to 68.45%, GPA-5 also declines
  • The overall pass rate across all boards this year, 68.45%, is significantly lower than last year's. Photo: Focus Bangla
    SSC 2025: Rajshahi board records highest pass rate, Barishal lowest
  • How S Alam’s Global Islami Bank cooked Tk2,259cr loss into Tk128cr profit
    How S Alam’s Global Islami Bank cooked Tk2,259cr loss into Tk128cr profit
  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: 73.63% pass rate among technical students, 68.09% at Madrasahs
  • Economist Abul Barkat; Photo: Courtesy
    Economist Abul Barkat arrested in graft case

Related News

  • Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
  • Rubio to meet China's foreign minister in Malaysia as US-Chinese tensions mount
  • 35% tariff: Bangladesh, US 'reach general consensus on some issues' on second day of talks; final round today
  • China, Canada commit to deeper engagement with Bangladesh on trade, humanitarian assistance
  • US remains Bangladesh’s top export destination

Features

Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

9h | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

1d | The Big Picture
Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

1d | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered — have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Renowned economist Abul Barkat imprisoned

Renowned economist Abul Barkat imprisoned

8h | TBS Today
All of Iran's uranium still intact, Israel claims

All of Iran's uranium still intact, Israel claims

7h | TBS World
Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

9h | TBS World
Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

10h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net