US–El Salvador trade deal eases rules for second-hand clothing exports

A new U.S.–El Salvador trade agreement has clarified that used clothing shipped from the United States can qualify for preferential treatment under CAFTA-DR, as long as it is exported from the U.S. and classified under HS code 6309.

Industry group SMART says the change removes a long-running barrier that had caused inconsistent customs decisions and delays for legitimate second-hand trade.

For consumers, the move could help keep more affordable clothing flowing into reuse markets while supporting jobs in sorting, resale and textile recycling. The clarification is also being framed as a practical step toward making circular trade work better in real life, where “rules of origin” designed for new products often do not fit second-hand goods.