Canadian apparel exports to the United States remain positive

Despite all the dire warnings and concern regarding trade between Canada and the United States, trade figures show that Canadian exports of made-in-Canada apparel are stable and in some cases growing over the first few months of 2025. 

We have limited access to concrete figures as trade data takes about two months to be compiled and published. One statistic that is available on a real-time basis is the usage of quotas which allow Canadian manufacturers to use imported raw materials (yarns/fabrics) in apparel exported to the US. 

These quotas are called tariff preference levels. (TPL). Such quotas apply to:

• Exports of wool apparel from Canada to the US

• Exports of apparel made from cotton and man-made fibers from Canada to the US

• Exports of Canadian textiles (yarns and fabrics) to the US

There are also similar quotas for US-made and Mexican-made apparel exported to Canada.

Over the first four months of 2025 TPL utilization figures show that the exports of TPL apparel goods from Canada to the US are up. 

For wool apparel, TPL utilization is up, and in particular, men’s suit exports are up a healthy amount.

For cotton and MM fibre apparel, the shipments are down marginally.

Exports of textiles under the TPL quotas are down significantly.  

In all cases, these changes reflect the volume of goods shipped (displayed in square meter equivalents), not the dollar value of shipments.

Monthly trade statistics showing the dollar value of Canadian apparel exports show that the US market is up almost 5% in January-February compared to the same period in 2024.

The link to the TPL utilization chart can be found here:

Link to all exports of apparel, YTD vs. 2024: click here