US Import Duties Scarves China 2026

US Import Duties on Scarves from China in 2026: The Definitive Breakdown After the SCOTUS Ruling

By Weave Essence | Date: April 3, 2026
Data verified as of April 3, 2026. Tariff rates subject to change; consult a licensed customs broker for entry-specific advice.

Custom knit scarves in production — China OEM scarf factory floor with colourful wool yarn

Key Data Points — China Scarf Imports to the US, April 2026

IEEPA tariffs struck down by SCOTUS: February 20, 2026 (Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 6–3 ruling)
Section 301 tariffs on China-origin scarves (HS 6117 / 6214): remain fully in force at 7.5%–25% depending on specific code [citation: USTR.gov, 2026-02-20]
New Section 122 temporary surcharge: 10% on all imports, effective February 24, 2026; expires July 24, 2026 unless Congress extends [citation: Honigman Law, 2026-02-20]
MFN baseline duty on most knit scarves (HS 6117.10): approx. 14.9% [citation: HTSUS, usitc.gov]
Estimated total duty stack on a typical China-origin knit scarf, April 2026: ~32–40% (MFN + Section 301 + Section 122)
Section 122 hard ceiling: 15% — statutory maximum, 150-day limit
Section 301 exclusion extensions valid through: November 9, 2026 [citation: USTR Federal Register, 2025-12-01]

What Actually Happened on February 20

On February 20, 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give the President authority to impose tariffs. All IEEPA-based duties — the “reciprocal tariffs,” the “fentanyl tariffs,” every executive-order tariff imposed since February 2025 — were invalidated in a single decision called Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump.

I’ll be honest: when I first saw the ruling come through, my immediate reaction was “finally, some clarity.” Then I read the follow-up announcements and realised the situation was, if anything, more complicated than before.

Within hours of the ruling, President Trump signed three executive orders. The IEEPA tariffs were revoked. A new 10% global import surcharge was imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, effective February 24. And the administration announced it would immediately launch new Section 301 investigations into most major trading partners. So no, the tariffs didn’t just disappear. They got restructured under different legal plumbing.

“The IEEPA tariffs are dead. The tariff environment is not. For China-origin scarf imports, you are still looking at a meaningful duty stack — just built on different foundations.”

The piece that matters most for anyone sourcing scarves or knitwear from China: Section 301 tariffs — the original ones from 2018–2019, confirmed and expanded through the Biden administration — were never IEEPA-based. They remain fully in force. They were not touched by the SCOTUS ruling. Not one percent of them. [citation: USTR Statement, 2026-02-20]

❌ Common misconception: “The Supreme Court struck down the tariffs, so importing from China is cheap again.”
✅ Reality: IEEPA tariffs are gone. Section 301 tariffs (7.5%–100% depending on product, typically 7.5%–25% for scarves) remain. A new Section 122 10% surcharge was immediately layered on top. Your total duty burden fell — but not to zero, not even close.

The Three Tariff Layers That Now Apply to Your Scarf Order

As of April 2026, US importers of China-origin scarves face three separate layers of duty that stack on top of each other.

Think of it like this. Before the SCOTUS ruling, you had four layers: MFN baseline + Section 301 + Section 122 (well, IEEPA at the time) + fentanyl surcharge. Now you’re down to three. Still three.

Layer 1 — MFN Baseline Duty (always applies)
This is the standard “most-favoured-nation” tariff rate that every WTO member pays. For knit scarves (HS 6117.10), this is approximately 14.9%. For woven scarves and shawls (HS 6214.20 for silk, HS 6214.30 for synthetic fibre), rates vary from 0% to 12% depending on fibre content. This has nothing to do with China specifically — it applies to all origins.

Layer 2 — Section 301 Duties (China-specific, still in force)
These are the tariffs that started under Trump’s first term, targeted specifically at Chinese goods in response to IP and technology transfer practices. For textile products in HS Chapter 61 and 62 (which covers most scarves), the Section 301 rate is typically 7.5%. This has been confirmed through multiple court reviews, including the Federal Circuit’s ruling in HMTX Industries v. United States (September 25, 2025) [citation: Clark Hill, 2026-02-20]. It survives everything.

Layer 3 — Section 122 Temporary Surcharge (new, expires July 24, 2026)
On February 20, the same day IEEPA was struck down, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 10% global import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Effective February 24, 2026. This applies to essentially all imports, with limited exceptions (USMCA goods, certain Section 232-covered products). The legal ceiling under Section 122 is 15%, and the statute limits it to 150 days without Congressional approval — meaning it expires July 24, 2026 unless Congress acts [citation: Honigman Law, 2026-02-20].

What’s not in this list anymore: the old “fentanyl tariff” of 10–20% on China and the “reciprocal tariff” of 10%+ that were both IEEPA-based. Those are gone. That’s where the reduction came from.

Duty Rates by HS Code: Knit vs Woven vs Cashmere Scarves

The duty rate you actually pay depends heavily on which HS code your scarf clears under. Get the classification wrong and you’re either overpaying or running compliance risk.

I talked to a freight forwarder friend last week who said he’s been fielding three or four calls a day from buyers who don’t know what their landed cost looks like right now. The confusion is completely understandable — even professionals can’t keep up with how fast the layers have changed. So here’s the clearest breakdown I can give you, as of April 2026.

Product type	HS code (US HTS)	MFN baseline	Section 301	Section 122	Total stack (approx.)
Knit scarf / muffler, of wool or fine animal hair	6117.10.2010	~14.9%	7.5%	10%	~32–33%
Knit scarf / muffler, of cashmere	6117.10.2010 (same heading)	~14.9%	7.5%	10%	~32–33%
Knit scarf / muffler, of man-made fibres	6117.10.6000	~14.9%	7.5%	10%	~32–33%
Woven shawl / wrap, of wool (HS 6214.20)	6214.20.0000	~6.7%	7.5%	10%	~24–25%
Woven scarf, of silk or silk waste (HS 6214.10)	6214.10.1000 / 6214.10.2000	~5–6.9%	7.5%	10%	~23–24%
Woven scarf, of synthetic fibre (HS 6214.30)	6214.30.0010	~12.3%	7.5%	10%	~30%

Note: Rates are additive approximations based on publicly available HTSUS schedule and USTR Section 301 lists. Verify exact codes with a licensed customs broker. Section 122 expires July 24, 2026 unless Congress extends. [citation: HTSUS, usitc.gov; EcomCPA analysis, 2026-02-27]

“If you’re importing knit wool or cashmere scarves from China right now, budget for roughly 32–33% in US import duties. Not 7.5%, not 25% — 32–33%. That’s the real number.”

What This Means for Your Landed Cost: A Real Example

Tariff percentages only make sense in context. Here’s how the duty stack affects a real bulk scarf order.

Last month a buyer from the US Pacific Northwest reached out about a custom knit scarf order — 1,200 pieces, 70% Merino wool / 30% cashmere blend, private label for a boutique outdoor brand. His last landed cost calculation was based on numbers from mid-2025, before the SCOTUS ruling, and he was trying to figure out whether to go ahead or wait. So we walked through the numbers together.

Let’s use a simplified version of that example:

FOB Ningbo price: USD 9.80 per piece × 1,200 pcs = USD 11,760
Ocean freight + insurance to Los Angeles: approx. USD 1,400 total
CIF value: USD 13,160
MFN baseline (14.9% on CIF): USD 1,961
Section 301 (7.5%): USD 987
Section 122 (10%): USD 1,316
Total duties: USD 4,264 — an effective rate of ~32.4% on CIF
Customs broker fee + ISF: approx. USD 350
Total landed cost: approximately USD 17,774 — or USD 14.81 per piece

For context: if this order had been placed in early 2024, before Section 301 escalations and before the additional IEEPA layers, the effective duty burden would have been roughly the 14.9% MFN baseline alone — about USD 1,961 in duties, not USD 4,264. That’s a difference of USD 2,300 on a single 1,200-piece order.

Does that mean you shouldn’t source from China? I don’t think so, and I’ll explain why in the next section. But you do need to know the actual number before you quote your customer a retail price.

What Comes After July 24, 2026 — And Why You Should Care Now

The Section 122 surcharge has a hard expiry date of July 24, 2026. What replaces it will reshape the duty picture for the rest of the year.

Say what you like about IEEPA — at least it had no statutory ceiling and no expiry date. Section 122 is the opposite. Maximum 15%, maximum 150 days, done. Without Congressional extension, the 10% surcharge disappears July 24, 2026. If that happens and nothing replaces it, buyers importing knit scarves from China would be looking at roughly 22–23% total duties instead of 32–33%. That’s a meaningful reduction.

But here’s the thing: the administration has been clear that it intends to replace the lost tariff authority through new Section 301 investigations and potentially Section 232 investigations into new product categories [citation: WilmerHale, 2026-02-20]. Section 301 investigations take time — usually months — but once concluded and duties imposed, they have no expiry date. If the USTR launches a new Section 301 investigation into textile and apparel specifically, the tariff environment could get more restrictive, not less, in late 2026 or 2027.

My honest read on this: use the next few months to lock in pricing, build up inventory where your cash flow allows, and work with your factory on lead time flexibility. Don’t assume that because Section 122 expires in July, your costs are about to drop. The administration has too many tools and too many incentives to keep the pressure on.

Practical Sourcing Strategy: How to Navigate This Without Losing Your Mind

Despite the complexity, most buyers sourcing custom scarves from China at volume are still competitive on landed cost versus alternatives. The key is structuring your orders and contracts to absorb tariff volatility.

I’ve heard a lot of people say “just move to Vietnam” or “try India” over the past two years. And look, for some product categories that makes sense. But a friend of mine who does wholesale scarf sourcing for European brands told me something interesting last month. He spent most of 2025 trying to shift his wool scarf OEM with logo work to Vietnam and Morocco. In the end, the tooling costs for complex jacquard patterns, the longer lead times, and the limited yarn variety brought him back to China for most of his core SKUs. Vietnam now handles about 15% of his volume — the simpler, solid-colour pieces. Everything with complex construction stays in China.

Here’s what I’d recommend for buyers trying to manage the current environment:

1. Know your exact HS code before you place any order. The difference between HS 6117.10 (knit) and HS 6214.20 (woven wool shawl) on your duty rate is about 8 percentage points. Get a binding ruling or pay a customs broker to verify your classification. It’s a couple hundred dollars and worth every cent.

2. Check whether your product is covered by any Section 301 exclusions. There are 178 exclusions that have been extended through November 9, 2026 [citation: USTR Federal Register, 2025-12-01]. Most cover industrial equipment, not scarves — but it’s worth checking. Your customs broker can run the search in ten minutes.

3. Build the current tariff stack into your pricing now, not later. If you quote a retail price to your customer based on 2024 duty rates, you’ll eat the difference when the shipment clears. Don’t do that. Build 32–33% duties into your landed cost model for China-origin knit scarves, today.

4. Consider splitting your order timeline around July 24. If Section 122 is not extended and duties do drop to ~22% in late July, orders placed to arrive after that date benefit from lower costs. This requires predicting policy, which is inherently uncertain — but it’s a factor worth modelling.

5. Don’t abandon China for diversification’s sake alone. Vietnam faces 46% IEEPA-based reciprocal tariffs — oh wait, those were struck down too. Post-SCOTUS, Vietnam now only faces the 10% Section 122 surcharge plus applicable MFN rates. That’s a much better picture than it was six months ago. But for complex, custom scarf manufacturer capabilities, China’s production ecosystem — yarn sourcing, jacquard programming, certification access — is still significantly ahead for most mid- to high-end product specs.

“China+1 isn’t about abandoning China. It’s about not being 100% dependent on a single origin for a product that crosses borders. Build your scarf supply chain like you’d build any investment portfolio — with intentional diversification, not panic reallocation.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did the SCOTUS ruling eliminate all US tariffs on Chinese scarves?: No. The ruling struck down IEEPA-based tariffs (the reciprocal tariffs and fentanyl tariffs imposed since February 2025). Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods — which apply to most scarves at 7.5% — remain fully in force and were unaffected by the decision. A new 10% Section 122 surcharge was imposed the same day, effective February 24, 2026.
Q: What is the total import duty on a knit cashmere or wool scarf from China right now?: As of April 2026: approximately 32–33% on CIF value for knit scarves under HS 6117.10. This combines the MFN baseline (~14.9%), Section 301 (7.5%), and the new Section 122 surcharge (10%). This number will change when Section 122 expires July 24, 2026.
Q: Can I get a refund on IEEPA tariffs I already paid?: The SCOTUS ruling did not establish a refund mechanism. The administration has signalled it will contest refund claims. Importers who filed protective lawsuits at the US Court of International Trade are best positioned to pursue refunds. Consult a licensed customs attorney if this affects your business significantly. [citation: EcomCPA, 2026-02-27]
Q: Is sourcing scarves from Vietnam or other countries now cheaper than China?: Post-SCOTUS, Vietnam’s duty picture improved significantly — the IEEPA-based 46% reciprocal tariff is gone, leaving only the 10% Section 122 surcharge plus the MFN rate. However, for complex custom scarf manufacturer work (jacquard, cashmere blends, multi-colourway small runs), China’s supply chain depth and certification access still give it a structural advantage for most product specs. Vietnam is competitive for simpler, high-volume solid-colour pieces.
Q: What happens after July 24, 2026 when Section 122 expires?: The 10% Section 122 surcharge has a 150-day statutory limit, expiring July 24, 2026 unless Congress extends it. The Trump administration has stated it will replace expiring tariff authority with new Section 301 and Section 232 investigations. The tariff environment will likely remain active. Monitor USTR announcements closely in May–July 2026. [citation: Honigman Law, 2026-02-20]

Key Terms Defined

Section 301 Tariffs: Tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, targeting unfair foreign trade practices. The original Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods were imposed 2018–2019 during Trump’s first term and range from 7.5% to 100% depending on product. For scarves, the typical rate is 7.5%. These were not touched by the SCOTUS ruling.
IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act): A 1977 law that gives the President authority to regulate commerce during national emergencies. Trump used it from February 2025 to impose sweeping tariffs on most US imports, including the “reciprocal tariffs” and “fentanyl tariffs.” The Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2026 that IEEPA does not authorise tariffs.
Section 122 Tariff: A provision of the Trade Act of 1974 that allows the President to impose a temporary import surcharge of up to 15% for up to 150 days to address balance-of-payments emergencies. Trump invoked it on February 20, 2026 to replace IEEPA tariffs. The current rate is 10%, expiring July 24, 2026.
MFN (Most-Favoured-Nation) Rate: The standard tariff rate that WTO members apply to each other’s goods unless a preferential trade agreement specifies otherwise. For knit scarves (HS 6117.10), the US MFN rate is approximately 14.9%.
HS Code / HTS Code: Harmonised System (HS) codes are the international product classification system used to determine tariff rates. In the US, the 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code determines exactly which rates apply to your product. For scarves: HS 6117 covers knit accessories; HS 6214 covers woven scarves, shawls, and wraps.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): A manufacturer that produces goods to a buyer’s design and specifications, typically under the buyer’s brand. Most custom scarf manufacturer arrangements from China operate on an OEM basis.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The smallest quantity a factory will accept for a production run. For custom knit scarves from China, typical MOQ ranges from 300 to 1,000 pieces per colourway, depending on yarn type and construction complexity.
Section 301 Exclusion: A product-specific exemption from Section 301 tariffs, granted by the USTR. 178 exclusions were extended through November 9, 2026 following the November 2025 US-China trade deal. These mostly cover industrial equipment, not apparel.

Data Snapshot: Duty Stack Summary for China-Origin Knit Scarf, April 2026

MFN Baseline (HS 6117.10): ~14.9%
Section 301 (List 3): 7.5%
Section 122 Surcharge: 10% (expires July 24, 2026)
IEEPA Tariffs (fentanyl + reciprocal): 0% — struck down Feb 20, 2026
Total effective rate: approximately 32–33% on CIF value

The Bottom Line: 3 Questions Every Scarf Importer Should Ask Right Now

Before I wrap up, here are the three questions I’d be asking if I were on the buying side of a custom scarf order right now:

1. What is the exact HTS code my product will clear under, and what does the total duty stack look like on that code today? Not last year’s estimate. Today’s. With Section 122 included.

2. Do I have any products covered by Section 301 exclusions that are extended through November 2026? If yes, those orders should be prioritised now — that exclusion window won’t be open forever.

3. Am I building enough tariff buffer into my retail pricing to absorb a potential Section 301 escalation after July 2026? The administration has been clear that new investigations are coming. If your margins assume 2024-era duty rates, you’re underpriced.

The honest answer to the big question — is China still worth sourcing from for custom scarves — is yes, for most buyers. The duty stack is real, but China’s supply chain depth, yarn sourcing access, and OEM scarf factory capabilities have not gone anywhere. What’s changed is that landed cost modelling requires more precision than it did two years ago. Run the numbers carefully, and the math still works for most mid- to premium-range product specs.

Sources & Citations

US Supreme Court. Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. ___ (2026), decided February 20, 2026. supremecourt.gov
Office of the United States Trade Representative. “Ambassador Greer Issues Statement on Supreme Court IEEPA Decision.” February 20, 2026. ustr.gov
Congressional Research Service. “Supreme Court Rules Against Tariffs Imposed Under IEEPA.” February 23, 2026. congress.gov
Honigman Law. “Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs, But White House Announces New 10% Global Tariff in Response.” February 20, 2026. honigman.com
WilmerHale. “Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs—What Now?” February 20–21, 2026. wilmerhale.com
Clark Hill. “Supreme Court Overturns Trump’s IEEPA Tariffs.” February 20, 2026. clarkhill.com
Global Trade Alert. “What the SCOTUS Ruling on IEEPA Means for US Tariffs.” February 20, 2026. globaltradealert.org
EcomCPA. “The Tariff Landscape Just Changed Again.” February 27, 2026. ecomcpa.com
USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Current Release. hts.usitc.gov
USTR Federal Register Notice. “Notice of Product Exclusion Extensions: China Section 301.” December 1, 2025. federalregister.gov
TariffsTool. “US Tariffs on Clothing & Textile Imports (2026 Rates by Country).” February 19, 2026. tariffstool.com
USFIA. “Tariff Impact on Fashion Industry — 2025 Sourcing Trends & Outlook Report.” usfashionindustry.com

Cite This Article

APA:
Weave Essence. (2026, April 3). US import duties on scarves from China in 2026: The definitive breakdown after the SCOTUS ruling. Weave Essence Industry Insights. https://weaveessence.com/us-import-duties-on-scarves-from-china-in-2026-the-definitive-breakdown-after-the-scotus-ruling/

MLA:
Weave Essence. “US Import Duties on Scarves from China in 2026: The Definitive Breakdown After the SCOTUS Ruling.” Weave Essence Industry Insights, 3 Apr. 2026, weaveessence.com/blog/us-import-duties-scarves-china-2026.

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