Vietnam Apparel Import Tariffs in 2026: Current Rates and What Changed
The tariff landscape for Vietnamese apparel shifted significantly in early 2026, and the changes have made Vietnam more cost-competitive for U.S.-bound production than it has been in over a year. For brands, retailers, and sourcing managers, understanding where rates stand today, and where they may go next, is now a core part of planning production.
This guide covers the current tariff picture for Vietnamese apparel across major markets, explains the February 2026 changes that reshaped U.S. rates, and outlines what the shift means for sourcing decisions. Our interactive tracker maps current rates by market, and the analysis below puts those numbers in context.
Where things stand right now
Following the Supreme Court ruling in February 2026, Vietnamese apparel to the U.S. now faces a 10% Section 122 surcharge rather than the higher reciprocal tariffs that were struck down. Standard apparel duties (0 to 32% by product type) still apply on top, and the Section 122 rate is temporary, scheduled to expire around July 24, 2026. Rates for the EU, Japan, and other trade-agreement markets remain stable and preferential.
Vietnam Apparel Tariffs by Market
The interactive chart below maps current tariff rates for Vietnamese apparel across major destination markets. Hover over any bar for the exact rate and effective date. Because U.S. trade policy is changing quickly this year, the U.S. figure in particular is worth checking regularly.
Vietnam Apparel Import Tariffs, 2026
The February 2026 Shift: What Actually Happened
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President the authority to impose tariffs. The ruling invalidated the reciprocal tariffs imposed under IEEPA, including the rates that had applied to Vietnamese goods.
This did not result in a simple return to standard rates. Within days, the administration replaced the struck-down tariffs with a new mechanism, and U.S. trade policy has continued to develop since. Here is what the sequence means for Vietnamese apparel specifically.
The reciprocal tariff was struck down
The IEEPA reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese goods, which had reached as high as 46% before being reduced to 20% under a July 2025 trade deal, was invalidated by the Supreme Court.
Section 122 replaced it at 10%
The administration imposed a 10% surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, effective February 24, 2026. For Vietnam, this was one of the largest tariff reductions of any U.S. trading partner.
The surcharge is temporary
Section 122 is scheduled to expire around July 24, 2026. What replaces it is not yet settled, which is the main source of uncertainty for U.S.-bound planning.
Standard duties still apply
Standard apparel duties of 0 to 32%, depending on the product and HTS code, continue to apply on top of the Section 122 surcharge. Certain anti-dumping and countervailing duties also remain unchanged.
Refunds are in process
Importers who paid the struck-down IEEPA duties may be eligible for refunds, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun processing.
Vietnam is more competitive
The net effect is a significantly improved cost position. The drop from reciprocal rates to a 10% surcharge has restored much of Vietnam's competitiveness for U.S.-bound apparel production.
Vietnam went from one of the most heavily tariffed apparel sources to one of the most improved, almost overnight. The opportunity is real, but the window has a date on it.
What to watch before July
Because Section 122 is temporary, the U.S. tariff picture is likely to change again before the end of 2026. On March 11, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative initiated Section 301 investigations into 16 economies, including Vietnam, widely viewed as the bridge to replace Section 122 when it expires in July. Section 301 rates could be higher than the current 10%. Brands planning U.S.-bound production should model multiple scenarios and lock in pricing where possible.
Tariff Rates in Other Key Markets
Outside the U.S., Vietnam's trade agreements continue to provide stable, preferential access. For brands shipping to Europe, Japan, Australia, and other agreement markets, the tariff picture is far more predictable than the current U.S. situation.
Europe and the UK
The EU offers 0 to 12% via EVFTA, with many tariff lines progressively reduced under the agreement. The UK provides preferential rates under the UK-Vietnam free trade agreement (UKVFTA).
Asia Pacific and beyond
Japan offers 0 to 10% via CPTPP, well suited to premium apparel. Canada also benefits from CPTPP, Australia from AANZFTA and CPTPP, Singapore at 0% via VSFTA, and South Korea through the VKFTA.
Vietnam's network of trade agreements, combined with its manufacturing depth, continues to make it a leading sourcing destination across global markets regardless of the U.S. policy shifts.
What This Means for Your Sourcing Strategy
For brands already producing in Vietnam or evaluating it, the 2026 changes have improved the cost case considerably, particularly for U.S.-bound production. The drop from reciprocal rates to a 10% surcharge has narrowed the gap that had pushed some buyers to reconsider their sourcing over the previous year.
The practical complication is the July expiration of Section 122 and the pending Section 301 investigations. The most prudent approach is to treat the current rate as a planning input rather than a permanent condition. Brands shipping to the U.S. should model their landed costs under multiple scenarios, lock in pricing and production commitments where the timeline allows, and work with a customs broker to confirm exposure for their specific products and HTS codes.
For brands shipping to the EU, Japan, Australia, and other agreement markets, the picture is more stable, and Vietnam's preferential trade position remains a durable advantage that is not subject to the same U.S. policy volatility.
Evaluating Vietnam Production by Category
For buyers using the current tariff environment as a catalyst to evaluate Vietnam production more seriously, these guides cover what buyers need to know across the main categories we work in.
Formal wear and structured garments
Blazers, suits, tailored trousers, and structured outerwear for retailers, private label brands, and hospitality programs.
Hospitality uniform programs
Hotel groups, resort operators, and food service organizations producing scaled uniform programs across multiple properties.
Medical and healthcare apparel
Hospital systems, clinic networks, and healthcare organizations sourcing scrubs, lab coats, and clinical uniforms at institutional scale.
Performance and technical apparel
Activewear, technical outerwear, and performance uniform programs requiring specific fabric certifications and construction standards.
Custom uniform manufacturing
Healthcare, hospitality, retail, facilities, and corporate organizations building scaled uniform programs in Vietnam.
Responsible and sustainable sourcing
Environmental certifications, eco-friendly fabric options, and EU compliance standards for buyers with responsible sourcing requirements.
How Pham Fashion House Helps
Pham Fashion House is a New York-based apparel sourcing and production partner with operations in Vietnam. We help brands, retailers, and sourcing managers plan production with current trade conditions in mind, modeling costs across markets and aligning production timelines with the realities of an evolving tariff environment.
We are not a customs broker or a trade compliance advisor, and we recommend working with one for formal tariff determinations. What we provide is practical sourcing and production support: matching your program to the right factory, managing sampling and quality oversight, and coordinating production and export documentation through our Vietnam manufacturing network.
For more context on Vietnam production, our China vs Vietnam manufacturing comparison and our guide to switching garment production to Vietnam both cover how to think through sourcing decisions in the current environment. Buyers earlier in their factory evaluation process may also find our guide to choosing an apparel manufacturing partner in Vietnam and our Vietnam garment manufacturing guide for scaled production useful starting points.
Vietnam apparel production partner
Planning production around the 2026 tariff picture?
Pham Fashion House helps brands model current trade conditions and plan apparel production in Vietnam. We work with buyers across North America, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Australia, typically for programs of 3,000+ units per style.
Explore Our Services