"Exclusive-Some Walmart garment orders from Bangladesh on hold due to US tariff threat", 12 July 2025

Suppliers to Walmart have delayed or put on hold some orders from garment manufacturers in Bangladesh, according to three factory owners and correspondence from a supplier...as U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of a 35% tariff on the textile hub disrupts business...

The factory owners all said they expected orders to fall if the August 1 tariffs go into effect, as they are unable to absorb that 35% rate.

Iqbal Hossain, managing director of...Patriot Eco Apparel Ltd, told Reuters an order for nearly 1 million swim shorts for Walmart was put on hold...due to the tariff threat.

"As we discussed please hold all below Spring season orders we are discussing here due to heavy Tariff % imposed for USA imports," Faruk Saikat, assistant merchandising manager at Classic Fashion, wrote in an email to Hossain and others...Classic Fashion is a supplier and buying agent that places orders for retailers...

Walmart did not respond to a request for comment...

Rubel...said he expects clients will ask him to absorb part of the tariff, but added this would not be possible financially. Manufacturers have already absorbed part of the blanket 10% tariff imposed by the U.S. on April 2...

Retailers have front-loaded orders since Trump returned to the White House, anticipating higher tariffs...

Another Dhaka-based garment factory owner said an importer with whom he was negotiating a spring 2026 order of trousers for Walmart asked him on Thursday to wait a week before the order would be confirmed due to the tariff risk.

Hossain said he may look for more orders from European clients to make up for lost orders if the U.S. 35% tariff gets implemented, even if he has to cut prices to stimulate demand.