No spin: Turkish knitwear is not duty-free into the US. Here's how the duty actually works in 2026, why it's still competitive against China, and where we don't win.
Let's be straight: there is no US–Turkey free trade agreement, so Turkish sweaters enter the United States at standard "most-favored-nation" (MFN) duty rates — the same Column 1 rates in Chapter 61 of the tariff schedule that apply to most trading partners. Apparel duties are not low; depending on fiber they're commonly in the double digits. We'd rather you hear that from us than discover it on a customs entry.
On top of the base MFN rate, 2026 has added a baseline tariff that applies to most origins, Turkey included — and those measures have shifted more than once this year. The headline number that matters isn't any single rate; it's the gap between origins:
| Cost layer | Turkey | China |
|---|---|---|
| Base MFN apparel duty (Ch. 61) | Applies | Applies |
| 2026 baseline tariff | Applies | Applies |
| Section 301 (China-specific) | None | Applies |
| UFLPA detention exposure | Low (non-Xinjiang) | High (cotton) |
Indicative only — rates are volatile in 2026 and vary by fiber and HTS code. Confirm current numbers with your customs broker.
Apparel duty is driven by the HTS classification, and fiber content moves it a lot. As a rule of thumb, cotton knit tops and sweaters sit lower than man-made-fiber equivalents, and wool/fine-animal-hair has its own rates. Your landed cost is the duty rate × customs value, so the yarn you choose has a tariff consequence, not just a hand-feel one. Get the HTS code confirmed before you commit a bulk PO.
We do not beat duty-free trade partners on landed duty. Countries with a US FTA — like Mexico (USMCA) or the CAFTA-DR group — can land qualifying apparel at preferential or zero rates. If your only metric is duty, that's their lane. Where Turkey wins is the total picture: no Section 301, low UFLPA exposure, European-grade flat-knit and WHOLEGARMENT, a 250 MOQ, and roughly two-week freight to the East Coast. Duty is one line on the cost sheet; we compete on the rest.
Send your styles and target market. We'll quote ex-works and, with your broker's duty figure, you can compare a true landed cost against your current sourcing.
