Dhaka, May 10 -- In a significant shift in global trade dynamics, Bangladesh has overtaken China to become the second-largest apparel exporter to the United States in the first quarter of 2026.

The shift comes as steep "counter-tariffs" imposed by the Trump administration have gutted China's market share, even as global demand remains sluggish.

According to data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), US apparel imports from the world fell by 11.63 percent to $17.73 billion during the January-March 2026 period. While nearly all major manufacturing hubs recorded negative growth, the scale of China's collapse has allowed Bangladesh to climb the rankings despite its own moderate decline in earnings.

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