Secondhand industry diverts around four billion pounds of textiles from landfills each year. Credit: Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock.

In its official remarks submitted to the USTR, SMART emphasised the increasing number of countries that are implementing restrictions or outright bans on these essential exports.

This trend is detrimental not only to the US textile recycling industry but also to global access to affordable clothing, the association stated.

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SMART, which represents businesses involved in textile collection, reuse, and recycling, advocates for secondhand clothing exports as a vital component of the circular economy.

The sector annually diverts around four billion pounds of textiles away from landfills, bolstering job creation, aiding charitable causes, and enhancing environmental conservation efforts, SMART said.

SMART government affairs director Jessica Franken said: “Unfair trade restrictions on secondhand clothing not only hurt US businesses but also disrupt access to affordable clothing in developing markets. These barriers undermine the circular economy and hinder economic opportunities in the communities that rely on these goods.”

The association’s communication pinpointed specific trade obstacles enforced by countries such as Argentina, members of the East African Community (EAC), and El Salvador.

SMART’s recommendations to the USTR:

  • Engage with Argentina to advocate for the lifting of its ban on imported secondhand clothing, potentially unlocking a market valued between $170 and $200m for US exporters.
  • Strengthen reciprocal trade principles within the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to ensure that EAC nations adhere to their commitments to maintain open markets.
  • Address the misinterpretation of CAFTA-DR trade regulations by El Salvador, which resulted in unwarranted tariffs secondhand clothing exports from the US.

SMART has called on the USTR to focus on these issues to ensure equitable market access for US businesses.

It also expressed its willingness to collaborate with USTR officials and other administrative bodies to safeguard American employment, bolster sustainable practices, and fortify international trade relationships.

A report released in March last year forecasted that  the global secondhand apparel market could reach a valuation of $350bn by 2028, accounting for 10% of the global fashion industry by 2025.

Furthermore, a study commissioned by the Humana People revealed last year that the secondhand clothing sector employed an estimated 1.28 million people in Africa, with 2.5 million Africans dependent on income from the sector.