American imports from China of dyes and fabric used by the digital textile printing sector are about to get more expensive, with the Trump administration imposing 20% tariffs on all goods exported from mainland China, doubling a tariff ordered on February 1.  

Significant volumes of dyes are imported into the US from China. UN trade data indicated that US$96.3m of Chinese-made dyes, pigments and preparations were imported into the US in 2024, with US$1.1m worth of reactive dyes and preparations imported that year. There is also a major trade in fabric, including cloth being purchased for US-based finishing, which will also be saddled with 20% tariffs. That includes, said UN data, US$34.2m of woven fabric comprising at least 85% cotton fibres; US$5.3m worth of woven fabric comprising at least 85% synthetic fibres; and US$5.5m of fabrics made from silk or silk waste. Also, imports of digital textile printing machines to the US will attract 20% duties – another significant volume in trade, with China-made printing, copying and facsimile machines of all kinds imported in 2024 totaling US$460m, and printing machine parts representing US$5.5m of US imports. 

The tariffs, as the Trump administration imposes 25% tariffs on all goods exports