Importing from Pakistan to the USA: Tariffs, FDA Rules and Textile Labelling in 2026

The United States is a major market for Pakistani home textiles and rice, but US import rules place most of the responsibility on the importer, not the foreign supplier. Tariff policy has also been unusually volatile. This guide sets out what a US business needs to know before buying from Pakistan.

It is general guidance based on CBP, USITC, FDA, USDA and FTC sources checked in October 2026. Tariffs in particular can change at short notice. Confirm current requirements for your product with a licensed customs broker before you commit to an order.

Step 1: Decide Who Will Be the Importer of Record

The importer of record is legally responsible for the entry. According to CBP, the owner or purchaser of the goods, or a licensed customs broker they designate, can act as importer of record, and the importer remains ultimately responsible for the accuracy of the entry and for paying duties, even when a broker files it.

Most commercial entries also need a customs bond, either a single-transaction bond or a continuous bond covering a year of imports. A customs broker can arrange both the filing and the bond.

For ocean shipments, an Importer Security Filing (ISF or “10+2”) must generally be submitted no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded on the vessel at the foreign port. Late or inaccurate filings can attract liquidated damages, so make sure your supplier sends shipment details to your broker in good time.

Step 2: Classify the Goods and Find the Normal Duty Rate

US duty rates are set by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), searchable at hts.usitc.gov. CBP’s rulings database shows how similar goods have been classified. Your supplier’s export HS code shares only its first six digits with the US code, so the final classification is your responsibility.

Examples of the general (normal trade relations) rate, checked in October 2026, before any additional tariffs:

Additional duties under Chapter 99, described below, are reported and paid on top of these rates. Always confirm the current rate for your exact classification.

Step 3: Check the Additional Tariff on Pakistan-Origin Goods

This is the part of US import planning that has changed most. In summary:

• August 2025: a “reciprocal” tariff of 19% on Pakistani goods took effect under an executive order issued under IEEPA.
• February 2026: the US Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorise tariffs. The reciprocal tariffs ended and a temporary 10% surcharge under Section 122 applied to imports from all countries for 150 days.
• From 24 July 2026: the USTR’s Section 301 action placed Pakistan in a 10% tier, charged in addition to the normal duty rate under HTS heading 9903.05.62, with exemptions for listed products.

When we reviewed CBP’s exemption list in October 2026, it included fresh mangoes from Pakistan, while rice and cotton towels and bed linen did not appear on Pakistan’s list. Check the live HTS and CBP guidance for your exact product, because exemptions are set at the tariff-line level.

The US and Pakistan have also been negotiating a trade agreement, which could change these rates. Do not rely on a rate quoted in an old article or price list, including this one. Confirm it on the day you commit.

Step 4: No GSP, No De Minimis

Two former routes to lower costs no longer apply:

• GSP: the Generalized System of Preferences expired on 31 December 2020 and is pending renewal by Congress, so eligible goods pay the normal rate.
• De minimis: CBP has suspended the $800 de minimis exemption for commercial shipments, and the exemption ends by statute on 1 July 2027. Even small sample consignments can be dutiable.

Build duty, the additional tariff, broker fees, bond, freight, insurance and port charges into a full landed-cost calculation before comparing suppliers.

Step 5: Rice and Other Food Imports (FDA)

Imported food is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.

• Facility registration: foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for US consumption must be registered with the FDA and renew their registration every two years, between 1 October and 31 December of even-numbered years. Registrations not renewed by 31 December 2026 are treated as expired, so check your supplier’s status.
• Prior Notice: the FDA must receive Prior Notice of every food shipment before it arrives: at least eight hours before arrival by water and four hours by air.
• Import alerts: the FDA’s Import Alert 99-08 allows detention without physical examination of products found to contain pesticide residues. When we checked in October 2026, its list included a number of Pakistani rice exporters. The FDA lists all import alerts that name Pakistan.

Before you order rice, check that your supplier is not on an import alert, agree pre-shipment laboratory testing against US pesticide tolerances, and write the requirement into the contract. Our rice import specification checklist covers the specification details.

Step 6: Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (USDA APHIS)

Fresh produce must be admissible under USDA APHIS plant health rules, which are set product by product and country by country. Fresh mangoes from Pakistan, for example, have been admissible since 2010, subject to irradiation treatment at an APHIS-certified facility, a phytosanitary certificate and commercial-consignment conditions. Check admissibility for any other product in APHIS’s Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database before agreeing terms.

Step 7: Towels, Bed Linen and Home Textiles

• Country of origin marking: imported goods must be marked legibly and permanently with the English name of the country of origin, for example “Made in Pakistan”.
• FTC textile labelling: towels, sheets and pillowcases are covered by the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act. Labels must show fibre content by generic name and percentage, the country of origin, and the company name or registered identification number (RN).
• Manufacturer identification: textile entries must identify the manufacturer using a manufacturer identification code (MID). Ask your supplier for the producing manufacturer’s name and address early so your broker can construct it.

Agree label content, care instructions and packaging in the purchase specification so labels are applied in the factory. Our hotel towel and bedsheet specification guide covers the product details to agree.

What Your Pakistani Supplier Should Provide

For a sea shipment, expect a commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, the information your broker needs for the ISF, and product documents such as a phytosanitary certificate or laboratory reports for food. Our guide to export documents from Pakistan explains each document. Before your first order, also verify the exporter.

Source Products for the US with Bridge Global Trading

Bridge Global Trading (Pvt.) Ltd. works with international buyers sourcing towels, bed linen and home textiles, rice and fresh produce from Pakistan. Share your specification, quantity, US destination and any testing or labelling requirements, and we will confirm what can be supplied and on what terms.

See our import and export services, or request an export quote for the USA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the US tariff on goods from Pakistan in 2026?

When we checked in October 2026, most Pakistan-origin goods paid the normal US duty rate plus an additional 10% under a Section 301 action that took effect on 24 July 2026 (HTS heading 9903.05.62), with some products exempt. US tariff policy has changed repeatedly, so confirm the current position on the USITC’s HTS or with a licensed customs broker before you buy.

Does GSP apply to imports from Pakistan?

No. The US Generalized System of Preferences expired on 31 December 2020 and, according to CBP, is pending renewal by Congress. Goods that would have qualified pay the normal duty rate.

Do I need FDA approval to import rice from Pakistan?

The FDA does not pre-approve rice, but food facilities must be registered with the FDA and every shipment needs Prior Notice before arrival. Rice is also subject to FDA import alerts for pesticide residues, under which shipments from listed firms can be detained without physical examination. Check whether your supplier is listed.

Can small commercial shipments still enter duty-free under de minimis?

No. CBP has suspended the $800 de minimis exemption for commercial shipments, and US law ends it by statute from 1 July 2027. Plan for duty on every commercial shipment.