Import Duty on Clothing from China: Apparel & Textile Duty Calculator
Compute stacked USITC Chapter 61 (Knitted) and Chapter 62 (Woven) apparel tariffs for cotton t-shirts, polyester activewear, hoodies, denim, and private-label fashion.
Why Fiber Content (Cotton vs. Polyester) Drives Apparel Tariff Rates
Apparel and textiles represent one of the most heavily taxed categories in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Even before trade war surcharges, U.S. Column 1 MFN rates on garments range from 11% to 32%. When estimating the import duty on clothing from china, CBP classifies garments first by construction—Chapter 61 for knitted or crocheted fabrics and Chapter 62 for woven fabrics—and second by predominant fiber weight (cotton vs. man-made synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon).
| Garment Type & Fiber | HTS Code | Base MFN | Sec 301 List 4A | 2026 IEEPA | Stacked Duty Rate | Load in Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Knit T-Shirts & Tanks | 6109.10.00 | 16.5% | 7.5% | 20.0% | 44.00% | |
| Polyester/Synthetic Knit Shirts | 6109.90.10 | 32.0% | 7.5% | 20.0% | 59.50% | |
| Synthetic Yoga Pants & Leggings | 6104.63.20 | 28.2% | 7.5% | 20.0% | 55.70% | |
| Woven Polyester Jackets/Anoraks | 6201.40.20 | 27.7% | 7.5% | 20.0% | 55.20% | |
| Woven Cotton Denim Jeans | 6203.42.40 | 16.6% | 7.5% | 20.0% | 44.10% |
Worked Example: $8,000 Order of 100% Cotton T-Shirts vs. Polyester Activewear
See how fiber composition changes your unit economics on a 2,000-piece apparel order ($8,000 FOB Ningbo, $950 ocean freight) inside our import duty on clothing from china simulator:
Cotton Knit Tees (HTS 6109.10.00) vs. Polyester Gym Shirts (HTS 6109.90.10)
- 100% Cotton Tees (44.0% Stacked Rate): $8,000 FOB + $3,520.00 Duty ($1,320 MFN + $600 List 4A + $1,600 IEEPA) + $34.58 MPF + $10.00 HMF + $995 Freight = $12,559.58 Total ($6.28/shirt).
- Polyester Gym Shirts (59.5% Stacked Rate): $8,000 FOB + $4,760.00 Duty ($2,560 MFN + $600 List 4A + $1,600 IEEPA) + $34.58 MPF + $10.00 HMF + $995 Freight = $13,799.58 Total ($6.90/shirt).
- Tariff Engineering Insight: Blending 55% cotton / 45% polyester so cotton predominates by weight shifts classification from 6109.90 (32% MFN) to 6109.10 (16.5% MFN), saving $1,240.00 on a single $8,000 batch!
UFLPA Cotton Traceability & FTC Care Labeling Rules
In addition to calculating the import duty on clothing from china, apparel importers must maintain yarn-to-garment supply chain records under CBP UFLPA enforcement and affix permanent FTC labels showing exact fiber percentages, RN/company name, country of origin, and ASTM care symbols.
Official 10-digit commodity classifications can be cross-referenced directly in the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) database prior to filing CBP Entry Summary Form 7501.
Importers of Record seeking formal tariff classification certainty may request an electronic binding ruling from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP eRulings) under 19 CFR Part 177.
All Chapter 99 China trade remedy announcements and statutory four-year review modifications are published by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
Ocean container bookings require an Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2) transmitted to CBP at least 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel at a Chinese port.
Frequently Asked Questions: Import Duty On Clothing From China
Why are polyester shirts taxed higher than cotton shirts by US Customs?
Under HTS Chapter 61 and 62, man-made fiber (polyester, nylon, spandex) garments historically carry protective Column 1 MFN rates of 27% to 32%, compared to ~16.5% for cotton garments.
What Section 301 list applies to clothing and apparel from China?
Most finished wearing apparel in Chapters 61 and 62 falls under Section 301 List 4A (subheading 9903.88.15), which adds a 7.5% tariff on top of the base MFN rate and IEEPA surcharge.
How is a 50% cotton / 50% polyester blend garment classified?
Under HTSUS Section XI Subheading Note 2(A), textile goods containing two or more fibers are classified by the fiber that predominates by weight. If cotton and polyester are exactly 50/50 by weight, the tariff heading appearing last in numerical order (man-made fibers, 32% MFN) applies—so always specify 52% cotton / 48% polyester to secure the lower cotton rate!
Why did my $400 clothing sample shipment require a Formal Entry and Customs Bond?
Under 19 CFR 143.21, commercial shipments of textiles and apparel (Chapters 61–63) have a special Informal Entry limit of $250 rather than $2,500. Any commercial apparel box over $250 requires Formal Entry.
Do water-resistant jackets qualify for a lower tariff rate?
Yes! Under Chapter 62 Additional U.S. Note 2, woven jackets that pass the AATCC Test Method 35 water-resistance rain test qualify for subheadings (such as 6201.40.10) carrying a 7.1% Base MFN rate instead of 27.7%.
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