Fashion is a slim margin business that relies on a global supply chain to make a profit but Trump's steep US tariffs on the fashion sourcing majors risk unravelling the sector quite literally at its seams.

Just Style regularly reports on the leading fashion sourcing destinations as well as new ones to watch.

The usual suspects include China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand and India. In one fell swoop US president Trump has made it more expensive for fashion sourcing executives to source from these go-to destinations.

China is the biggest fashion importer to the US by some distance. Shipment volumes to the US were 861m SME in January, according to the latest US Office of Apparel and Textiles’ (OTEXA) data available.

It now faces a tax of 54% on all goods imported to the US, including fashion, but is retaliating with a slightly lower tariff of 34% on all US goods, including fashion.

Trump is very open about wanting to target China specifically. He did this during his first presidential term with the 301 tariffs and he’s doing it again with these much higher ‘taxes’ by another name.

This could also explain why he has slapped such steep tariffs on China’s closest neighbours. These countries are known to produce some garments on China’s behalf to escape tariffs, so in Trump’s eyes this workaround will no longer be possible.

Vietnam, which was the US’ second largest importer in January and continues to have a close relationship with China for fashion sourcing now faces a 46% tariff on all imports.

Similarly, neighbouring Cambodia has been struck by 49% tariffs with Cambodia’s Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL) already predicting garment factory closures which will force workers to migrate to pay off debts and their children dropping out of school. 

Cambodia and Vietnam are much poorer than China and are understandably concerned about the impact of these significant tariffs to their economy with reports suggesting both countries are keen to strike a deal with Trump to remove the steep tariffs.

Bangladesh which was the third largest for US fashion imports in January by volume will now have to endure a 37% tax on all of its US fashion exports. This is also a significant blow to the South Asian nation given it relies on the fashion and textiles sector for its economic growth and development. Plus, it is trying to overcome its rocky 2024 which saw garment worker and student protests make international news ahead of its longstanding prime minister resigning and fleeing the country.

So, if the future global fashion sourcing map is shaped purely around the countries facing minimal impact from Trump’s tariffs what could it look like?

The picture is changing every day, but the most attractive fashion sourcing options for US brands would be trusted fashion sourcing countries that sit on Trump’s minimum 10% tariff list. These countries include Türkiye and Morocco as well as members of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement and African Growth and Opportunity Act.

By Just Style