\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.fibre2fashion.com\/Newsresource\/images\/309\/chatgpt-image_321317.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThese significant tariff increases cannot be absorbed by US brands and retailers, as margins are already tight and leave little room to offset such dramatic cost increases. As a result, these added costs would be passed on to consumers, hurting the affordability of clothes and shoes for American families,\u201d Beth Hughes,<\/strong><\/em> AAFA vice president for trade and customs policy<\/strong><\/em>, wrote in a letter to the ITC.<\/p>\n US trade body AAFA has urged the International Trade Commission not to revoke the permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status granted to China as that would result in higher tariffs borne by US companies.
\u201cAt the same time, higher tariffs on Chinese imports would constrain US companies\u2019 ability to invest in innovation, expand operations and support American job growth,\u2019 he noted.<\/p>\n AAFA in its letter said that US manufacturers rely on Chinese raw materials and inputs to produce finished goods under \u2018Made in USA\u2019 initiatives. Certain textiles are only available from China at the scale required, with no viable alternatives available now.<\/p>\n China remains the largest supplier for the US apparel, footwear and travel goods industry, accounting for 27.26 per cent of apparel imports, 47.83 per cent of footwear imports and 36.62 per cent of travel goods imports in 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cRevoking China PNTR would result in higher tariffs borne by US companies significantly raising costs, reducing Americans\u2019 ability to purchase affordable clothing, footwear and travel goods, while straining limited US and global manufacturing capacity that cannot readily replace these imports and provoking potential retaliatory measures that could further harm US companies,\u201d the letter read.<\/p>\n Many small businesses and employers may not be in a position to absorb those costs, it observed.<\/p>\n While these additionally costs might ultimately be manageable\u2014by being passed along over time or addressed through other mitigation measures, including alternative sourcing\u2014those measures take time and also involve costs, it said.<\/p>\n An entire class of companies would be eliminated by the existential nature of such high tariff costs.<\/p>\n China\u2019s pattern of retaliation suggests that any US move to revoke PNTR would likely be met with swift and proportional countermeasures, the letter noted.<\/p>\n As China a major market for American goods, the loss of PNTR would not only raise prices and disrupt supply chains, but also risk closing off commercial opportunities in China, it added.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)<\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n
\nHigher tariffs on Chinese imports would constrain US firms’ ability to invest in innovation, expand operations and support US job growth, and would risk closing off commercial opportunities in China. <\/p>\n