Customs Issues for the Clothing & Textile Industry
Learn how customs affects imported apparel, footwear and textiles, and find official resources, trade agreement information, brokers and attorneys.
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What Is Customs, and Why Does It Matter to Fashion?
The mission of the United States Customs Service, now known as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is to ensure that goods entering and exiting the United States comply with U.S. laws and regulations. CBP provides information on importing and exporting clothing. If your company imports apparel, clothing or footwear into the United States, you should understand duty rates, classification, origin and labeling.
CBP's role in the apparel industry
- Ensuring compliance with duty, quota and intellectual property rules.
- Collecting duties and taxes based on classification, value and origin.
- Protecting intellectual property by stopping counterfeit goods, which is vital in fashion.
- Monitoring trade agreements and preference programs.
- Preventing fraud, smuggling and illegal transshipment.
Import regulations change over time. Always confirm current rules with CBP and consider professional advice for specific import questions.
The Import Process in Brief
- ClassifyDetermine the HTS number for each style (chapters 61, 62, 63 and 64 are common for apparel and footwear).
- Determine origin & valueCountry of origin drives duty rate and eligibility for trade programs.
- Security filingImporter Security Filing (ISF, "10+2") is required for ocean cargo before loading.
- EntryA broker files entry with CBP and duties are paid.
- Release & deliverCargo is released, then trucked to the warehouse.
Classification, Duties & Official Resources
- Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
- CBP HS Codes for Apparel
- US Category System
- US Tariff Rates
- US Tariff and Trade DataWeb
- Import Quotas
- Customs Rulings
- Duty Drawback
- Country of Origin Markings
- Schedule B Search Engine
- Commodity Description Lookups
- Tariffs Definition
CBP resources
- CBP Apparel and Footwear Overview
- CBP Apparel and Footwear Import Guidelines
- CBP Apparel and Footwear Rulings
- CBP IPR Overview
Apparel terminology under the HTSUS
Apparel Terminology Under the HTSUS is a CBP Informed Compliance Publication with a guide to classifying apparel under chapters 61 and 62 and a glossary of working definitions. A copy is archived here: Apparel Terminology Under the HTSUS June 2008 (PDF), downloaded from the CBP website on August 27, 2019. Visit the government website for the most current version.
Trade Agreements & Programs Abbreviations
Customs agreements have long names, so most people use abbreviations.
Trade programs and tariff rules change frequently. Confirm current status with official sources.
Compliance & Security
Importing & Exporting
International Information
Clothing, shoes and fashion accessories travel the world, so learn the import and export rules of each market.
The European Commission's Market Access Database gives tariff information for many non-EU countries, searchable by HS code or product, and includes an Exporters Guide to Import Formalities.
Customs & Trade Resource Directory
Additional information to help you learn about customs matters for clothing and textiles. Apparel Search is an independent directory; verify details with official sources.
APEC Tariff DatabaseTariff information for APEC member economies, plus Tariffs and Rules of Origin at http://tr.apec.org/. APEC was established in 1989 to advance economic dynamism in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Boskage: Thomson Reuters Global Trade Publications
Books, software, broker training and U.S. Customs publications for international business.
- CAFTA
U.S. - Central American Free Trade Agreement.
- Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA)
Promotes export-oriented growth in Caribbean Basin countries and diversification of their economies.
- Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
Tariff and customs information for COMESA member countries.
- C-TPAT
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
- FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas)
Follows the process begun at the 1994 Summit of the Americas to integrate Western Hemisphere economies.
- International Trade Administration
Helps U.S. businesses participate in global markets; includes the Commercial Service, Manufacturing and Services, Market Access and Compliance, and Import Administration.
- Logistics Zone
Online service for logistics, transportation, distribution and supply chain management.
- Major Shippers Report
Census Bureau import statistics by country and category with the status of any controls.
- Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), China
China's ministry for domestic and foreign trade, economic cooperation and foreign investment policy.
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Sections relating to textiles and apparel, including yarn, fabric, tariff preference levels and rules of origin. More at https://www.apparelsearch.com/nafta.htm.
- US Customs Official Web Site
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA)
Major shippers reports, HTS correlations, list of embargoes, publications and Federal Register notices.
- U.S. Textile and Apparel Category System
Correlates Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers with textile and apparel category numbers.
- WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing
Provided for phased elimination of textile and apparel quotas; in effect from January 1, 1995.
After Customs: Store Your Goods
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a customs broker to import clothing into the U.S.?
Not legally in every case, since importers may file their own entries, but many use licensed brokers because apparel classification, valuation, origin and labeling rules are complex.
What is an HTS code and why does it matter?
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule number classifies your product and determines the duty rate and any restrictions. Knitted apparel generally falls in chapter 61 and woven apparel in chapter 62; footwear is chapter 64.
What is ISF 10+2?
The Importer Security Filing requires importers of ocean cargo to submit specified data to CBP before the goods are loaded on a vessel bound for the U.S. Your broker or forwarder can usually file it.
Do textile quotas still apply?
Most WTO textile and clothing quotas were phased out under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, but other restrictions, trade remedies and country-specific measures may still apply. Check the current rules for your origin and product.
What is duty drawback?
Duty drawback allows eligible importers to recover certain duties paid on imported goods that are later exported or destroyed. A broker or customs attorney can advise on eligibility.