US Tariffs on Bangladesh Apparel in 2026: A Plain-English Guide for American Brands | Nak Fashion Group
US tariffs on Bangladeshi garments changed three times in eighteen months. Here is where they stand now, how Bangladesh compares with China and Vietnam, and what it means for your landed cost.
| QUICK ANSWER Since 24 July 2026, Bangladeshi apparel entering the US pays its normal (MFN) duty plus a 10% Section 301 tariff. China, Vietnam and Thailand pay 12.5%. The earlier “reciprocal” tariffs were struck down by the US Supreme Court in February 2026. A planned exemption for garments made with US cotton has not yet taken effect. |
The 2025–26 timeline in one table
| Date | What happened | Additional tariff on Bangladesh |
| April 2025 | “Reciprocal” tariffs announced under IEEPA | 37% announced, then 10% baseline during talks |
| August 2025 | Country rates finalised | 20% |
| 9 February 2026 | US–Bangladesh trade deal signed | 19% agreed (not implemented) |
| 20 February 2026 | Supreme Court rules IEEPA tariffs unlawful | Reciprocal tariffs end |
| 24 February 2026 | Temporary global tariff under Section 122 (150 days) | 10% |
| 24 July 2026 | Section 301 tariffs take effect | 10% (China, Vietnam, Thailand: 12.5%) |
What you pay today
US duty on Bangladeshi garments now has two layers:
- Normal (MFN) duty, set by product and fibre in the US tariff schedule. Cotton knit T-shirts (HTS 6109.10) carry 16.5%, for example, while synthetic-fibre equivalents carry much more. Averaged across Bangladesh’s apparel exports, reports put MFN duty at roughly 15–16%.
- Section 301 tariff of 10%, added on top, effective 24 July 2026.
For a typical cotton knit programme, that means total duty of roughly a quarter of customs value. Your exact figure depends on the HTS code of each style — ask your customs broker to classify your products.
| BANGLADESH NOW HAS A TARIFF EDGE Under the Section 301 structure, Bangladesh is in the lower 10% tier because it has a forced-labour import prohibition in place. China, Vietnam and Thailand pay 12.5%. On garments that already carry high MFN duty, a 2.5-point gap is real money at volume. |
The US-cotton exemption: promising, not yet live
Washington has said it will create a tariff-rate quota for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Under it, set volumes of garments made with US cotton and US textile inputs could enter free of the Section 301 tariff. Implementation was set for no earlier than 1 September 2026; reports since then describe it as still under consideration. Until it is confirmed, plan on paying the full 10%.
If the quota goes live, garments made from US-grown cotton could become the most cost-effective option into the US. That makes fibre traceability — proof of where the cotton came from — directly valuable, not just a compliance exercise.
Forced labour is now part of tariff policy
The Section 301 tariffs were justified on forced-labour grounds. They sit alongside the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), under which US Customs can detain garments suspected of containing cotton from Xinjiang. For US brands, cotton traceability now protects you on two fronts: avoiding detentions and qualifying for any US-cotton relief.
What US brands should do now
1. Re-cost open programmes with the current stack: MFN duty for each HTS code plus 10%.
2. Ask your customs broker whether you are owed refunds on reciprocal (IEEPA) tariffs paid before February 2026.
3. Ask suppliers for cotton origin documentation — spinning mill and fibre origin — on every cotton style.
4. Explore US-cotton fabric options for core styles, so you’re ready if the quota opens.
5. Compare landed cost, not FOB price. The tariff gap with Vietnam and China changes the maths.
| Re-costing your US programme? Send us your styles and target quantities. We’ll return FOB pricing with fibre-origin options, including US-cotton fabric where available. Request a costing → |
The bottom line
After eighteen months of change, Bangladesh has ended up in a relatively strong position for US apparel buyers: a 10% Section 301 rate against 12.5% for its biggest rivals, with possible further relief for US-cotton garments. Tariffs are still moving, so build costings you can update quickly and work with suppliers who can document fibre origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since 24 July 2026, Bangladeshi apparel pays its normal MFN duty (set by HTS code, roughly 15–16% on average for Bangladesh’s apparel mix) plus a 10% Section 301 tariff.
The US Supreme Court ruled on 20 February 2026 that IEEPA tariffs were unlawful. A temporary 10% global tariff under Section 122 replaced them until 23 July 2026, and the Section 301 tariffs followed on 24 July 2026.
Yes. Under Section 301, Bangladesh pays 10% while Vietnam, China and Thailand pay 12.5%, on top of normal MFN duty.
A tariff-rate quota for garments made with US cotton and textile inputs has been announced for Bangladesh and three other countries, but it had not taken effect at the time of writing.
This article is general information for sourcing teams, not legal or customs advice. US tariff measures changed several times in 2025–26 and may change again. Confirm current rates and HTS classification with a licensed customs broker before costing orders. Last checked: 4 October 2026.
