To avoid US ban: Local apparel makers cautious in using Chinese raw materials

Staff Reporter :
The entrepreneurs of the local apparel sector are cautious in using Chinese raw materials to avoid US ban complications, the industry insiders said.

They, however, thinks that the US ban on Vietnam’s apparel could be blessing for them as the entrepreneurs hoped that many World-renowned fashion brands like Gap, Adidas and Nike would increase shipment orders from Bangladesh.
The US recently imposed ban on apparel that is produced by cotton imported from the Uighur Muslim community-based Xinjiang province in China.

The Tighter US rules to ban imports from China’s Xinjiang are compounding pressure on Vietnam’s apparel and footwear makers, hitting a sector that has already shed nearly 90,000 jobs since October in the global manufacturing hub as demand slowed, according international media report.

Following the incident, the two apex bodies of the apparel sector–the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA)–have issued verbal warnings to the factory owners to avoid the ban complication.

Bangladesh’s clothing exports to the US market grew by 36.4 per cent to $9.75 billion year-on-year in 2022, according to the latest data from the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (Otexa).

Due to the incident of ban, several big fashion brands like Gap, Adidas and Nike have reduced shipment orders from Vietnam and they may choose Bangladesh as alternative sourcing country, hoped BGMEA leaders.

The expensive apparel items are produced in Vietnam due to various facilities. Of this, Nike buys at

least 26 per cent and Adidas 16 per cent from the country. In this situation, the ban on Vietnam has created the possibility of increasing Bangladesh’s apparel exports, they said.

BGMEA Vice-President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury said, Inflow of order will increase Bangladesh, if it decline in Vietnam. So, we don’t to make mistake like Vietnam. We now want to provide quality products as per the demand of the buyers.”

Syed Nazrul Islam, Vice-President of the BGMEA, said, “We have informed the owners on behalf of BGMEA and BKMEA so that bans do not come to Bangladesh like in Vietnam.”