For US Fashion Brands
A Clothing Manufacturer for US Brands — Tariffs Explained Honestly
US import duty on Bangladeshi garments is not zero, and we're not going to tell you it is. This page explains what the tariff situation actually looks like right now, why Bangladesh can still make sense on landed cost, and what to check before you commit. We're a full-package factory in Dhaka, running since 1998, with a 300-piece MOQ. Comparing US factories too? See our full clothing manufacturers guide for real US factories, directories and how to vet any of them.
US Tariff Status — What We Know, As of Now
Content last verified: September 2026 — this changes often, confirm before quoting
Bangladesh has never had US GSP duty-free access for garments — that benefit was suspended in 2013 and the wider GSP programme later lapsed. Historically, Bangladeshi apparel paid standard MFN duty (commonly in the mid-teens percent range depending on fibre and construction). Through 2025, additional reciprocal tariffs pushed the effective rate considerably higher. A February 2026 US-Bangladesh trade agreement brought the reciprocal component down, and a further country-specific tariff tier was applied in mid-2026 tied to forced-labour-related trade measures — with Bangladesh placed in a lower tier than several competing manufacturing countries.
Net effect: combined tariffs on Bangladeshi garments currently run roughly in the mid-20s percent range for many categories — meaningfully lower than several competing Asian manufacturing countries faced at the same time, but this is a moving number tied to ongoing trade policy. We confirm the current rate for your exact HS code as part of every US-bound quote rather than quoting a fixed number here.
This is not customs, trade, or legal advice, and US tariff policy has changed multiple times within a single year. Confirm current rates with your customs broker or USTR/CBP resources before committing to pricing.
Why Bangladesh Can Still Win on Landed Cost
Labor cost gap is large
Bangladesh's manufacturing labor cost advantage over several competing countries is large enough to absorb tariff increases on basic cotton knitwear and still land ahead on a per-unit basis — this needs checking per style, not assumed.
Relative tariff tier matters
What matters for competitiveness isn't just Bangladesh's tariff in isolation, but how it compares to alternative sourcing countries facing their own tariff tiers at the same time.
Low MOQ for US independent brands
300 pieces per style — sized for a growing US brand's production run, not only large retail programmes.
Certified for US retail onboarding
GOTS, OEKO-TEX, BSCI, and C-TPAT — see our full certification list with what each one actually verifies.
What to Check Before You Commit
- Get the current HTS code and tariff rate for your exact product — this varies by fibre content and garment type, not just by country.
- Ask whether your product could qualify for the reduced-tariff pathway available for apparel made with US-origin cotton or fibre.
- Run a full landed-cost estimate before comparing FOB quotes across countries — see our free price calculator and manufacturing cost guide.
- Confirm your factory's C-TPAT status, which affects how often your shipments get held for inspection at US ports.
CPSIA and Care Labels for US Retail
If you're selling children's apparel in the US, your garments need to meet CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) requirements — this covers lead and phthalate content limits, small-parts and drawstring safety rules for kids' clothing, and permanent tracking labels with manufacturer, location, and production date information. We build CPSIA-compliant tracking labels into kids' and baby production runs as standard; see our kids and baby clothing manufacturing page for specifics.
All garments need a US-compliant care label and country-of-origin label ("Made in Bangladesh") under FTC Care Labeling Rule and US Customs marking requirements. If you sell into California specifically, ask us about Prop 65 warning requirements for your product category — whether it applies depends on your materials and finishing, so it's a per-order check rather than a blanket answer.
Who Is the Importer of Record?
For most of our US brand partners, you or your customs broker acts as the importer of record and is responsible for duty payment, entry filing, and compliance at the US port. We ship FOB (Free on Board) from Chittagong or Dhaka by default, meaning you handle ocean freight, insurance, and US customs clearance from that point — DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms are available on request if you'd rather we coordinate door-to-door delivery and build duty into a single landed price. Talk to your freight forwarder or customs broker early, since import bond and ISF (Importer Security Filing) requirements need setting up before your first shipment leaves port.
Shipping to the US — Timing and Sizing
Transit time
Sea freight from Chittagong to major US West Coast ports (Los Angeles, Long Beach) typically runs 28-35 days; East Coast ports (New York, Savannah) typically add 5-10 days for the longer routing. Air freight is available for urgent orders in 3-6 days at a higher cost per unit.
Working hours overlap
Dhaka is 10-11 hours ahead of US time zones. Our team is typically online during your late evening through early morning US time — we structure production updates and sample approvals around that gap so it doesn't slow you down.
US sizing
We grade patterns to US numeric or letter sizing (XS-XXL, 0-20, etc.) based on your size chart and target fit — see our size chart guide for how US sizing compares to UK and EU equivalents if you're sourcing for multiple markets.
Fulfilment-ready packing
Poly-bagged, barcoded, and cartoned to your Amazon FBA or Shopify 3PL warehouse spec on request — tell us your fulfilment requirements during order confirmation and we build them into the packing plan.
Also sourcing for brands outside the US? We quote in GBP, CAD, AUD and JPY too — see our pages for UK brands, Canadian brands, Australian brands, and Japanese brands for market-specific duty and shipping detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bangladesh have duty-free access to the US for garments?
No. Unlike the EU, UK, Canada, and Australia, Bangladesh has never had US GSP duty-free treatment for garments — GSP benefits for Bangladesh were suspended in 2013 and the program itself lapsed afterward. US-bound Bangladeshi apparel pays standard MFN duty rates plus any additional tariffs in effect at the time of shipment.
What is the current US tariff on Bangladeshi garments?
As of our last check, following a February 2026 US-Bangladesh trade agreement and subsequent tariff adjustments, combined tariffs on Bangladeshi garments run roughly in the mid-20s percent range, layering a reciprocal tariff on top of standard MFN duty rates that vary by product category. Rates have changed multiple times in 2025-2026 and remain politically sensitive — always confirm the current rate for your exact HS code before quoting a US retail price.
Is Bangladesh still cost-competitive for US brands despite the tariffs?
Often yes relative to other major sourcing countries — reporting has indicated Bangladesh received a comparatively lower tariff tier than some competing manufacturing countries in mid-2026, and Bangladesh's labor cost advantage is large enough that it frequently still comes out ahead on landed cost for basic cotton knitwear even with the added tariff. This varies by product and changes as rates change, so it needs checking per order rather than assumed.
Do I need CPSIA compliance for kids' clothing made in Bangladesh?
Yes, if you're selling children's apparel into the US, CPSIA requirements apply regardless of where the garment is manufactured. This covers lead and phthalate limits, drawstring and small-parts safety rules, and permanent tracking labels. We build CPSIA-compliant labelling into kids' and baby production as standard.
Who handles US customs clearance — me or the factory?
By default we ship FOB from Chittagong or Dhaka, so you or your customs broker acts as importer of record and handles US entry filing and duty payment from that point. DDP terms, where we coordinate door-to-door delivery and build duty into a single price, are available on request.
Get an Honest Landed-Cost Quote
28+ years manufacturing for international brands. We'll quote FOB pricing and walk you through the current tariff math for your product — no guessing.
Request a Quote