U.S. imports of Chinese clothing in May hit a 22-year low, with tariffs having a significant impact.

Reuters: U.S. clothing imports from China in May hit a 22-year low due to tariffs

Reuters London/New York, July 10 report, the latest data from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) shows that the volume of clothing imports from China to the United States reached a 22-year low in May, highlighting the impact of increased tariffs.

Since President Trump raised the tariff to 145% in April, U.S. retailers have reduced their purchases from Chinese factories and turned to importing from countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and India. The value of clothing imports from China in May was $556 million, the lowest level since May 2003. This is lower than the $796 million in April, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline. In January, the import value was $1.69 billion, an increase of 15% compared to the same month last year's $1.47 billion, as companies stockpiled inventory in anticipation of Trump's tariffs.

Sheng Lu, a professor at the University of Delaware's Fashion and Textile Studies program, said that despite recent trade agreements between the U.S. and China, many of the largest U.S. fashion companies plan to further reduce their exposure to China, even if not completely exiting China.

Meanwhile, according to ITC data, clothing imports from Mexico in May rose 12% year-on-year to $259 million.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837244196680704/

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