Exports from the Catalan textile-clothing sector to the USA fell by 12.3% in the second quarter, according to data from the Catalan Fashion Cluster (MODACC) and the ACCIÓ department of the Generalitat de Catalunya. This fall is the result of the instability and uncertainty caused by the constant changes in the tariff proposals of the Trump government.
Since the signing, this August, of the European Union agreement with the United States that set the tariff increase at 15%, the MODACC Cluster perceives that there is a tendency to stabilize exports from Catalan fashion companies to the USA and stop the fall in the second quarter. The mere fact that the framework of commercial relations is more stable and that a ceiling has already been established contributes to resuming the international exchange of fashion products.
This week, the MODACC Cluster has carried out a training session with the associated companies on the new tariffs in the USA, which was attended by Jordi Tordera, consultant of the international business unit of ACCIÓ, and with the assistance of various Catalan fashion companies. The attending brands have explained their experience and the different situations they encounter in customs right now that they are exporting the collections for the next summer season to the USA.
For the executive director of MODACC, David Garcia, “Although the tariff increase for textile products manufactured in Europe is acceptable —since many types were already above the current 15%—, the trade war with Asia is causing an exponential increase in the price of products of Asian origin, at least until a new trade agreement is reached between China and the United States. This effect also indirectly impacts European brands”.
Although we will still have to wait a few months to see the impact of this tariff, the Cluster is optimistic and does not anticipate a collapse in fashion sales in the United States. David Garcia explains: “According to the brands that have just returned from the New York trade fairs this September, the market remains very dynamic and there is no slowdown in demand despite the new tariff scenario.”
Currently, sales to the United States represent 1.9% of the total Catalan exports of the textile-fashion sector.