Trump Tariffs Could Offer Lifeline for World's Finest Cotton
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Egypt, long recognized for its premium cotton, could gain ground in the global market as a result of President Donald Trump's tariff war with China, industry experts say.
Newsweek has reached out to the Egyptian Agriculture Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
New U.S. tariffs on Chinese textiles, introduced under the Trump administration in early 2025, could offer a much-needed lifeline to Egypt's legacy extra-long staple cotton, that risks fading from the global scene as a result of the country's inability to keep pace with shifting global supply chains.
Although tariffs were also imposed on Egypt and other cotton producers, those are lower than on China.
While U.S. Pima cotton remains a high-quality alternative, the loss of Egypt's long-staple variety would accelerate brands' shift towards less expensive more readily available synthetics and lower-grade imports.
A picture taken on September 13, 2018 shows an Egyptian farmer working in a cotton field in the Egyptian Nile Delta town of Kafr el-Sheikh.
A picture taken on September 13, 2018 shows an Egyptian farmer working in a cotton field in the Egyptian Nile Delta town of Kafr el-Sheikh.
KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images
What To Know
Egypt's cotton cultivation has suffered in recent years, as has its textile production.
But the Egyptian government is pushing to modernize textile manufacturing; a policy strategically aligned to expand the industry due to the U.S. imposing much higher tariffs on other countries.
"The US didn't impose tariffs on Egypt alone. It imposed much higher tariffs on other countries. This gives Egypt a very good opportunity to grow," Magdy Tolba, chairman of the Egyptian Turkish joint venture T&C Garments, told Reuters.
Egypt is seeking to redress a trend outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in April 2025 that raised questions over the long-term viability of its premium varieties—especially extra-long staple (ELS) and fine long-staple (LS) cottons.
In recent years, some luxury brands have shifted from Egyptian premium cotton to alternative sources such as U.S. Pima cotton or high-grade synthetics due to supply instability and quality concerns.
A 2016 controversy over the mislabeling of '100% Egyptian cotton' by Indian textile company Welspun—whose products were sold by Walmart, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond—damaged the global reputation of Egyptian cotton, prompting the government to enforce stricter quality control measures.
What People Are Saying
Magdy Tolba, chairman of the Egyptian Turkish joint venture T&C Garments told Reuters: "The US didn't impose tariffs on Egypt alone. It imposed much higher tariffs on other countries. This gives Egypt a very good opportunity to grow."
Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in cabinet meeting: "The world is currently witnessing a global war by all standards; it is not a military war but a comprehensive trade and economic war using all possible weapons.
"This situation, while presenting a challenge, also includes some opportunities. Several international reports have indicated that some countries are likely to benefit from these challenges, including Egypt in the sectors of industry and investment."
What Happens Next
As Egypt adjusts domestic policies to navigate shifting cotton dynamics, questions remain whether competitors will move fast enough to take advantage of the trade gap created by U.S. tariffs.
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