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Sri Lanka’s clothing faces 37.5% average US duty driving up prices by 20.6%
View(s):By Kapila Bandara
Sri Lanka’s clothing, including underwear and outerwear, will carry a far higher price tag on American store shelves after President Donald Trump imposed an across-the-board 10% duty on April 2, researchers in the United States have estimated after analysing hundreds of items of global imports.
The average US tariff would increase to 37.5% from the existing average of 14.7%, the rate mirroring trade under free trade pacts, the analysis calculates.
A broad analysis covering many key sectors, including apparel, was done a few months ago.
Researchers estimate prices of clothing in the US will jump by 12.5% to 20.6%, and shoppers will spend 22% to 33% less on clothing.
Infant pyjamas, now selling for US$15 (about Rs 4,431), would cost up to US$18. A US$50 woman’s cotton sweater would increase to US$56 to US$60, and a US$80 pair of men’s jeans would cost up to US$96.
Clothing for babies and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted, make up the fourth largest export item from Sri Lanka.
Imports would drop, and revenue of US apparel makers would increase by US$712 million to US$1.2 billion (Rs 354.5 billion).
Researchers studied more than 500 Harmonised Tariff Schedule (latest revision 7 uploaded and effective this Saturday) items of clothing, ranging from tops and bottoms to underwear and outerwear; swimwear to ski suits, as well as ties, gloves, socks, hosiery and clothing for babies.
Sri Lanka apparel export data show the biggest category overall is brassieres, girdles, corsets, braces, suspenders, garters “and similar articles and parts”. In 2024, items worth US$549.46m were shipped.
Separately, the loss to the US economy was estimated at a net US$16b to US$18b.
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