The United States textile and apparel market experienced a significant correction during the first half of 2026. According to the latest international trade data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) under the US Department of Commerce, textile and apparel imports dropped by 7.12 percent to 47.670 billion dollars during the January–June 2026 period, down from 51.326 billion dollars in the same period a year earlier.
The United States, as one of the world’s largest consumer markets for textile and apparel products, recorded a significant downward trend throughout the first half of 2026. Based on the latest international trade data released by the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) under the US Department of Commerce, total US textile and apparel imports contracted by 7.12 percent, falling to 47.670 billion dollars from 51.326 billion dollars in the same period last year. This figure reflects clear pressure on the purchasing power of US buyers and shifting consumption patterns amidst a challenging global economic landscape.
A rare alliance of US mills, apparel importers, and retailers has proposed that tariff credits could double textile exports to the Western Hemisphere and create more than 56,000 jobs. On July 6, four trade organizations jointly requested the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) to allow companies to earn credits when purchasing US textiles or qualifying apparel from United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) partners.
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