By Camila Rua - Translated by Leidy Rachen
The United States tariffs have caused trouble for Asian fashion exporting countries such as China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, with taxes exceeding 30%. China responded through social networks, generating controversy about the traceability of luxury products. This conflict opens an opportunity for the Latin American fashion market, which has production capacity, quality products, and available raw materials.
Trump's tariff threat materialised when he came to the presidency, mainly affecting China. The Asian giant is responsible for 30.1% of garment exports and 41.5% of textiles, which now faces a total tariff of 54%.
Nowadays, when you think of Chinese products, brands like Temu and Shein come to mind, but not luxury houses. However, the revelation that some high-end brands use Chinese-origin components in their production It’s the strategy that Chinese manufacturers have used to respond to the high tariffs on social networks.
This fact unleashed a wave of misinformation about the real origin of luxury items and, in turn, opened the way to question their traceability and manufacturing processes. Initiatives such as Universo MOLA have raised these questions for many years.
Both events represent an opportunity for Latin American fashion, because the tariffs imposed on the countries of the region do not exceed 20%. In addition, nations such as Colombia have already explored this market: according to Inexmoda, in 2024 the country exported 223 million dollars in textiles and clothing to the United States.
The growing interest in sustainability and traceability also benefits Latin America, where brands have stood out for their quality, transparency in the supply chain, and social commitment.
However, it is key that companies understand that exporting not only involves selling products, but also requires strategic planning. To take advantage of this scenario, brands must know their economic and productive capacities, as well as the target market. In other words, to capitalize on the current context, they must identify the pain points of the US market, take risks with innovative proposals, and above all, maintain the essence that distinguishes them.
Sources:
