Apparel and footwear: Chokepoints and risks
Brands and garment makers selling finished clothing, shoes and accessories to shoppers
Chokepoints and risks
- US duties on Indian goods reached 50% in August 2025, a February 2026 deal set 18% and a later court ruling left a temporary 10% duty, so terms in India's largest apparel market keep shifting4,6,7.
- China makes 55.6% of the world's shoes, so trade measures against China reshape footwear sourcing3.
- The EU took 35.8% of world garment imports in 2023, so EU sustainability and due-diligence rules set terms for exporters2.
- Polyester is 59% of fibre supply, tying garment costs to oil and PTA prices5.
- Forced-labour import bans and audit failures can stop shipments from a factory or region overnight.