Global manufacturers urge US buyers to share burden of tariff shocks

Global Garment Manufacturers Urge US Buyers to Share Tariff Burden Amid Industry Strain

Global garment manufacturers have called on US buyers to share responsibility as rising tariffs threaten the stability of the industry, endanger workers’ livelihoods, and stall progress on sustainability.

In a joint statement issued Monday, the International Apparel Federation (IAF), the Sustainable Textiles of the Asian Region (STAR) Network, and the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) urged brands and retailers to uphold their commitments to responsible purchasing practices (RPP). These include fair payment terms, transparent and predictable order planning, shared risk—particularly during crises—and refraining from last-minute cancellations or retroactive discounts.

The groups warned that the latest round of punitive tariffs imposed by the US administration, effective August 7, will see most apparel imports from key sourcing countries subjected to additional duties ranging from 15% to 25%. Though slightly reduced from the levels announced on April 2, the increases still mark a significant rise in costs.

"These tariffs, combined with heightened business uncertainty, are creating a more difficult environment for protecting workers’ rights and advancing environmental goals,” the statement said. “Tariffs hurt everyone—including Americans. Now more than ever, buyers must adhere to responsible purchasing practices.”

The global apparel and textile sector, employing over 75 million people—most of them women—is among the most interconnected industries worldwide. The statement stressed that the current US tariffs are unlikely to revive domestic production or bring back jobs. Instead, they will raise retail prices for US consumers, disproportionately impacting low-income families, while also hurting retailers' revenues.

Manufacturers further cautioned that these tariffs could lead to rushed, unsustainable production, undermine fair labor standards and environmental safeguards, and trigger job losses and factory closures in producer countries.

Describing the current climate as echoing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic—except this time "man-made"—the statement emphasized that suppliers, already operating on razor-thin margins, are ill-equipped to absorb cost hikes of up to 40%. With fixed wages and rising costs for raw materials and logistics, pushing the burden onto suppliers could unravel years of hard-won progress on fair wages, decent work, and sustainability.