Turkish-origin knitwear is not subject to Section 301 additional tariffs. US brands sourcing sweaters and knitwear from Turkey pay standard MFN duty only — not the elevated rates that apply to Chinese goods.
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorises the US Trade Representative to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries engaged in unfair trade practices. In practice, the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods — which began in 2018 and have escalated since — add significant costs on top of regular MFN duty for any product of Chinese origin. Knitwear is among the affected categories. Turkish goods are not subject to Section 301. The tariff disadvantage is entirely China-specific.
| Knitwear Type | Turkey (MFN only) | China (MFN + 301) |
|---|---|---|
| Wool sweaters (HTS 6110.11–19) | ~16–18.8% | Significantly higher |
| Cotton sweaters (HTS 6110.20) | ~16–17.3% | Significantly higher |
| Man-made fibre sweaters (HTS 6110.30) | ~32–32.6% | Significantly higher |
Verify exact HTS rates at the USITC HTS portal. Section 301 rates subject to change — consult a licensed customs broker for current rates on your specific product.
For a US brand importing 1,000 wool sweaters at a $30 FOB price, the difference between Turkish-origin MFN duty and Chinese-origin MFN + 301 duty is measurable in thousands of dollars per shipment — and in margin percentage points on every unit sold.
Beyond the duty cost, Section 301 creates planning uncertainty. Rates have been escalated multiple times since 2018, including in 2025. A Turkish supply chain has no exposure to those escalations — your landed cost formula stays predictable.
For US Customs purposes, "substantial transformation" determines country of origin. Knitwear knitted in Turkey from yarn — not merely assembled from pre-knitted panels imported from China — is considered Turkish origin. We knit our garments in Gaziantep, Turkey from yarn. The Certificate of Origin we export with confirms Turkish manufacture, which your customs broker uses to classify the goods as Turkish-origin on the import entry.
We do not source yarn from China, which means there is no secondary origin question about inputs — the supply chain is Turkish and European.
Turkish-origin knitwear: no Section 301, no UFLPA exposure, standard MFN duty. Send us your programme and we'll provide a landed cost estimate alongside the FOB quote.
No. Section 301 tariffs are applied exclusively to goods of Chinese origin. Turkish-origin knitwear — sweaters, cardigans, base layers and other knit garments — enters the US under standard MFN (Most Favored Nation) duty rates with no Section 301 additional duties. In 2026, the total effective tariff rate on Chinese knitwear (MFN + Section 301) is dramatically higher than Turkish knitwear (MFN only).
Standard MFN duty rates for Turkish sweaters depend on fibre content. Wool sweaters (HTS 6110.11–6110.19) typically carry 16–18.8% of the FOB value. Cotton sweaters (HTS 6110.20) typically carry 16–17.3%. Man-made fibre sweaters (HTS 6110.30) typically carry 32–32.6%. These are approximate MFN rates — verify the specific HTS code for your product at the USITC HTS portal before importing.
Section 301 tariffs on Chinese apparel have ranged from 7.5% to 25% depending on the product and timing, and in 2025–2026 additional escalations have been imposed. The combined MFN + 301 effective rate for Chinese knitwear in 2026 can be significantly higher than Turkish MFN-only rates, changing the landed cost calculus substantially for US importers.
For US Customs purposes, substantial transformation determines origin. Knitwear produced in Turkey from yarn (not just assembled from pre-cut panels) is generally considered Turkish origin. We export with a Certificate of Origin from the Turkish Exporters' Assembly confirming the manufacturing took place in Turkey, which serves as the primary country-of-origin documentation for US import entry.