What's the Tariff on Children's Clothing?
Children's clothing heavily imported from China.
Current Tariff Rate
42%
Pre-2025 Rate
11.5%
Rate Increase
+30.5pp
Price Impact
+42%
+$10.5
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$24.99
Kids outfit set
After Tariffs
$35.49
Kids outfit set
That's $10.5 more per unit — a 42% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Children's clothing tariffs at 42% represent one of the most regressive trade impacts, burdening families with young children who already face high costs. China dominates children's apparel through a massive manufacturing ecosystem optimized for small-batch, high-variety production — kids' clothing requires more size runs, safety compliance, and seasonal variation than adult apparel. The tariff applies to everything from onesies to school uniforms. Children outgrow clothes every 6-12 months, making clothing a recurring, unavoidable expense — unlike adult fashion where consumers can extend wardrobe cycles. Fast-fashion children's retailers like Carter's, Children's Place, and Old Navy source overwhelmingly from China; a $25 kids' outfit becoming $35.50 represents a 42% increase that falls hardest on families least able to absorb it. The safety compliance angle is critical: US children's clothing must meet CPSC flammability and lead standards, and Chinese factories have invested heavily in compliance infrastructure that alternative suppliers lack.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
China
Made in USA
2%
Import Volume
$8.9B
Alternatives
Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia (growing)
📅 Tariff Timeline
2005
MFA expiration — Chinese children's clothing floods US market
11.5% MFN2018
Section 301 on Chinese children's apparel
36.5%2025
IEEPA tariff increases rate on Chinese children's clothing
42%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
42M
Annual Cost Per Household
$185
💡 Did You Know?
- •Children outgrow clothing every 6-12 months, making the tariff a recurring tax on families with young kids
- •Carter's, the largest US children's clothing brand, sources 85% of its products from China
- •Children's clothing must meet strict CPSC safety standards — Chinese factories invested billions in compliance that alternatives lack
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 6111.20
- Current Rate
- 42%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 11.5%
- Tariff Type
- IEEPA
Legal Authority
IEEPA Executive Order (April 2, 2025)
Effective: April 2, 2025
"Liberation Day" — broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
The tariff on Children's Clothing is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 42% tariff on Children's Clothing is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 42% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $24.99 → $35.49
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