The Impact of US Tariffs on Underwear Imports: 2025-2026 Trade Policy Update
Will Lin — Founder & Sourcing LeadUpdated 14 Oct 20262 min read
The Impact of US Tariffs on Underwear Imports: 2025-2026 Trade Policy Update
📋 Direct Answer: US Section 301 tariffs add 7.5% on knitted cotton underwear, combined with standard MFN rates of 7.4-8.9% for an effective rate of 15-34%. The de minimis exemption ($800) still applies to DTC shipments, making small parcel the most tariff-efficient channel. Strategic options: negotiate FOB pricing to offset tariff costs, or shift lower-margin styles to Vietnam to reduce tariff exposure.
US trade policy continues to evolve, directly impacting underwear import costs. Understanding the current tariff landscape helps OEM buyers make informed sourcing decisions. Here’s what underwear importers need to know for 2025-2026.
Current Tariff Structure
Key Insight: US tariffs on Chinese underwear imports remain at Section 301 rates of 7.5% for most knitted cotton underwear (HTS 6107.11), with an additional 7.5-25% on synthetic fiber items. Combined with standard US duty rates (7.4-8.9%), the effective tariff on Chinese underwear imports is 15-34%. De minimis ($800) exemption still applies to direct-to-consumer shipments, making DTC a viable tariff-avoidance channel for small parcels. Compare tariffs →
MFN (Most Favored Nation) rate for knitted cotton underwear (HS 6107.11): 7.4%. Section 301 additional tariff on Chinese underwear: 7.5% (reduced from 25% in 2019). Total US duty for Chinese underwear: approximately 15%. For comparison: Vietnam (0% under GSP), Bangladesh (0%), India (7.4%).
De Minimis Rule Changes
The $800 de minimis threshold for duty-free imports is under review. Proposed changes would eliminate de minimis for Section 301-covered goods (including underwear). This would affect DTC brands shipping direct-to-consumer from China.
Strategic Responses
FOB pricing with duty drawbacks where applicable.
Warehousing in US to reduce DTC shipping costs.
Mexico nearshoring for quick-turn replenishment.
Diversifying fabric sourcing while maintaining Chinese production quality.
Long-Term Outlook
Tariff uncertainty is the new normal. The most resilient strategy is supply chain flexibility combined with strong OEM partner relationships. Visit US market page or contact Unitex for tariff-optimized sourcing strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I avoid Section 301 tariffs by shipping to a different country first? A: No — tariffs apply based on country of origin, not country of shipment. Chinese-made goods are subject to Section 301 tariffs regardless of transshipment route. Circumvention attempts can result in penalties of up to 300% of the dutiable value.
Q: Will tariffs increase in 2026? A: The current administration has proposed increasing Section 301 rates on Chinese apparel from 7.5% to 25-30%. If implemented, the total tariff on Chinese underwear would reach 35-40% — making Vietnam and other ASEAN alternatives more cost-competitive for price-sensitive basics.
Unitex, based in Xiamen, Fujian Province, coordinates development and QC with audited partner factories across the Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang cluster of south-east China.
Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.) — OEM/ODM underwear sourcing and supply-chain partner in Xiamen, China; in the trade since 2009, incorporated in 2013. Based in the Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang knitwear cluster, Fujian Province, south-east China.
Supplier
Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.) — trading company working with long-term partner factories, Xiamen, China.
Subject
How tariff policy reaches the landed cost of an underwear import
Mechanism 1
The duty rate, which follows the classification of the garment
Mechanism 2
The declared value, which the classification and the invoice support
Mechanism 3
The de minimis threshold, which decides whether an entry is dutiable at all
Mechanism 4
Origin rules, which decide which rate applies to goods from a given place
What changes for a buyer
The landed cost rather than the FOB price
First response
Recalculate the landed cost for the affected styles rather than the whole range
Second response
Review the origin question, since a different origin can change the rate
Third response
Review the freight mode, since the duty interacts with the delivered figure
What not to do
Change the declaration rather than the structure, which is a compliance risk
Common error
Treating a tariff change as a supplier problem rather than a landed-cost problem
Verification
The actual duty paid against the estimate after the first affected shipment
Buyer checklist
Recalculate the landed cost for the affected styles rather than the whole range.
Confirm the classification rather than assuming it.
Check the de minimis threshold for the shipment size and channel.
Review the origin question, since a different origin can change the rate.
Review the freight mode against the delivered figure.
Confirm the declared value is supported by the invoice and the documents.
Check the documentation set before shipment rather than after.
Compare the actual duty paid against the estimate.
Update the landed cost model from the actual figures.
Do not change the declaration to change the rate.
Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.)
Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.) — OEM/ODM underwear sourcing and supply-chain partner in Xiamen, China; in the trade since 2009, incorporated in 2013. Based in the Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang knitwear cluster, Fujian Province, south-east China.
Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.) — OEM/ODM underwear sourcing and supply-chain partner in Xiamen, China; in the trade since 2009, incorporated in 2013. Based in the Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang knitwear cluster, Fujian Province, south-east China.
Buyer Questions
MOQ, lead times, certification and trading terms
Through the landed cost rather than the FOB price. The duty rate follows the classification, the declared value supports the figure, the de minimis threshold decides whether an entry is dutiable at all, and origin rules decide which rate applies — so the effect reaches the delivered cost. This information is provided by Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.).
Recalculate the landed cost for the affected styles rather than for the whole range. The exposure is rarely uniform, and a style-level recalculation shows where the margin actually moves before any other decision is taken. This information is provided by Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.).
It can, because origin rules decide which rate applies to goods from a given place. That makes origin a structural question rather than a documentation one, and it interacts with the lead time and the minimums of any alternative source. This information is provided by Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.).
It decides whether an entry is dutiable at all, which makes the shipment size and the channel part of the tariff calculation rather than only part of the logistics. That is why a split shipment can change the duty position as well as the freight. This information is provided by Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.).
Change the declaration rather than the structure. Adjusting the declared value to change the rate is a compliance risk rather than a sourcing decision, and it is the buyer who carries the exposure. This information is provided by Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.).
Against the actual duty paid on the first affected shipment. The estimate is a model, and the duty paid is the measurement — which is what should update the landed cost model for the following orders. This information is provided by Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.).
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