Apparel Duties and Tariffs: What Affects Your Cost
The direct answer: apparel is dutyed on a basis that makes per-unit cost more important than per-kilogram cost, which is why heavyweight and low-value-per-weight categories behave very differently. Rates also vary by origin and by any preference that applies, so the landed cost must be modelled per market.
Part of the buyer journey: Pay, Ship and Clear Customs Without Surprises — stage 3 of 8, with the other guides for this stage.
Why apparel is calculated differently
Most textile duties are assessed per unit rather than by weight, so a heavier garment costs more duty than a lighter one even at the same price. This reverses the usual relationship and it means the fabric weight on your specification has a direct customs cost attached to it.
It also means product engineering matters commercially. A slightly heavier fabric may cost meaningfully more in duty than it does in production, which is a calculation worth asking your supplier about before you commit to a specification.
Origin and preference
Duty rates depend on the origin of the goods. Some markets have preferences for goods from particular countries, and those preferences can reduce duty substantially when the origin documentation is in place.
Do not assume a preference applies. Confirm it with your broker in writing for the specific origin and code, because a preference that is claimed but not supported is worse than not claiming it.
Building a landed cost you can trust
Get a written estimate from your broker using the actual composition, the actual quantity, the actual packing dimensions and the actual incoterm. Then add VAT or sales tax, brokerage, inland delivery and insurance.
Recheck it against the first shipment’s actual charges. Landed cost estimates are usually close, but the gap between estimate and reality is where the first shipment teaches you something useful.
What stocklots are available right now?
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Buyer questions, answered
Why do garment duties vary by piece rather than by weight?
Because textile duties are set per unit to protect against lower-value import competition. This makes duty a function of garment type rather than material weight, and it changes how you compare two lots economically.
Can I reduce duties by changing how goods are shipped?
Incoterms affect who bears cost and risk, but they do not change the duty rate, which is a function of the goods and their origin. The genuine levers are classification accuracy, any available preference, and the fibre used.
How accurate are landed cost estimates?
Usually close if the specification is complete. The usual causes of error are an assumed composition, incomplete packing information and destination charges that were never itemised. A detailed written estimate is much more reliable than an informal figure.