Fostering American Brands for Responsible Imports and Choice (FABRIC) is a coalition of U.S. clothing and apparel companies advocating for targeted reforms to the de minimis exemption in U.S. trade policy.
FABRIC represents American companies and clothing retailers who responsibly use the de minimis provision to manage their supply chains, ensuring goods reach American customers quickly, affordably, and safely.
WE SUPPORT targeted reforms to de minimis proposed by the Administration and Congress aimed at combating illicit trade from China and increasing transparency of de minimis shipments. This includes:
- Excluding goods subject to trade penalties (e.g., Sections 201, 301, and 232) from eligibility for de minimis, which means most textile and apparel imports from China.
- Requiring additional data on de minimis shipments.
However, we believe textile and apparel imports sourced outside of China should continue to be eligible for the de minimis exemption, allowing trustworthy American companies to continue legitimate trade activities.
AMERICAN JOBS & INVESTMENT
Preventing small and medium-sized businesses from using de minimis for products manufactured outside of China jeopardizes our ability to maintain and create jobs for American workers in communities across the country. This restriction seriously limits our ability to invest and grow, putting existing and future jobs at risk.
AFFORDABLE GOODS
If textiles and apparel are excluded from de minimis, American consumers will be forced to pay significantly more for essential items.
CONSUMER CHOICES
Changes to long-standing trade policy could upend American retailers’ supply chains, cause severe shipment delays, and force American businesses to shut their doors.
The de minimis exemption is a U.S. Customs provision that allows packages valued below $800 to be imported into the United States duty-free.
We support targeted reforms to de minimis proposed by the Biden administration and Congress to combat illicit trade from China and increase transparency of de minimis shipments.
These reforms include making shipments ineligible for de minimis if they contain products subject to trade penalties under statutes such as Sections 201 or 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, or Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Removing goods subject to Section 301 duties from de minimis eligibility, including nearly all textile and apparel imports from China, directly addresses illicit trade concerns while allowing American companies to conduct legitimate trade.
Additionally, we support improved data collection and transparency for de minimis eligible shipments.
We oppose removing textile and apparel imports sourced outside of China from eligibility under the de minimis exemption. Removing de minimis benefits for textiles produced anywhere will enable Chinese companies to maintain their competitive advantages, eliminating the impact of a more targeted China-specific policy.
Excluding textiles manufactured outside of China from de minimis would threaten small and medium-sized businesses, putting American jobs and investments at risk, raising prices, and reducing consumers' choices.