Spain Among the Most Affected by US Tariffs in Fashion Exports

The impact of US tariffs is already evident in Spanish fashion. The sector has drastically cut its exports to the United States over the past two months. In April and May, exports fell by 19% year-on-year, compared to a 4.8% decline across the European Union. In this context, Spain is one of the most heavily penalised countries within the EU bloc.

This downturn follows the Trump administration’s reactivation of its tariff policy with a new offensive after Liberation Day. In 2024, the US was one of the main growth markets for Spanish fashion, with an increase of 7.4%. Today, this market has become one of the sector’s biggest sources of losses.

This loss of weight is also reflected in total export volumes. According to Datacomex data, EU fashion sales to the US reached €934 million in May. Only 4.1% of that came from Spanish products. In 2024, Spain’s share was 4.6%.

Footwear is the most affected segment. In May, exports of footwear to the US plummeted by 30.9%, well above the decline seen in textiles and apparel. This trend had already been apparent since April.

The commercial blow highlights the sector’s vulnerability to political decisions beyond the market. In the short term, there is limited room for manoeuvre, but dependence on the US market is once again called into question.