How tariffs hit apparel and textiles
- The reciprocal tariff started at a 10 percent baseline in April 2025, then moved to country-specific rates in August 2025. Many major apparel sourcing countries in South and Southeast Asia received rates well above the baseline.
- China-origin goods also carried the separate IEEPA tariff tied to fentanyl trafficking, plus Section 301 duties on many products. The IEEPA portions may be refundable. Section 301 duties are not part of this refund.
- Unlike steel, autos, or furniture, most apparel and textile products were not covered by Section 232, so IEEPA duties were often the largest additional duty on the entry.
Common reasons apparel refunds come back wrong
- Rate changes during 2025 that were applied to the wrong entry dates in the refund estimate
- Country of origin disputes, especially for goods with multi-country supply chains
- Large numbers of small entries, where missing entries are easy to overlook
- Entries in bonded warehouses or foreign trade zones, which follow different refund rules
Records to have ready
- An ACE entry report showing IEEPA duty lines by entry
- Country of origin by style or SKU
- Your CAPE claim results and refunds received
- Any warehouse or foreign trade zone entry details
How we can help
We reconcile what you paid against what came back, sort each problem by type, and tell you whether it is something you can fix, something a licensed customs broker should handle, or something for an attorney. The review is free.
General information, not legal advice. Tariff refund rules and court rulings are changing. Deadlines depend on your own entries. Confirm your options with a licensed customs broker or attorney. TariffClarity is not a law firm or customs broker.