As of 2026-10-07, women’s dresses, kaftans, skirts and scarves from India carry a standard 20% import duty in Jamaica, with no trade agreement to reduce it, and 15% General Consumption Tax (GCT) on top. The Jamaica Customs Agency also lists smaller charges on the CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value, and one of them, the Environmental Levy, is the subject of a recent rate notice. This article sets out each charge, the value it is worked on and the points your customs broker should confirm.
Import duty: 20% on every garment line we checked
The Common External Tariff (CET) of the Caribbean Community sets rates for imports from third countries into its Member States. Our rate data shows no agreement for garments from India into Jamaica, so the standard rate is the one to plan on.
The rate does not change with fibre or with woven or knitted construction in any of the lines below.
| Garment | Woven fibres checked | Knitted fibres checked | Standard duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dresses | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester, silk, linen | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester | 20% |
| Kaftans, including loose robe or cover-up cuts in woven fabric | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester, silk, linen | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester | 20% |
| Skirts | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester, silk, linen | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester | 20% |
| Scarves and stoles | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester, silk, wool, linen | Cotton, wool | 20% |
| Tops and blouses | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester, silk, linen | Cotton, viscose / rayon, polyester | 20% |
If your combination is not in the table, such as a knitted silk dress, check with your customs broker rather than assuming the same rate.
GCT, levies and fees at the border
Duty is only the first charge. The table shows what the Jamaica Customs Agency lists and the value each charge is worked on.
| Charge | Rate or amount | Worked on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 20% | CIF amount |
| General Consumption Tax | 15% | Customs value plus duty |
| Standard Compliance Fee, collected for the Bureau of Standards | 0.3% | CIF value |
| Environmental Levy | 0.5% on the agency’s duties page; see the notice below | CIF value |
| Stamp duty | $100 in Jamaican dollars | Shipments with a CIF value over J$5,500 |
| Customs Administrative Fee | Amount not given in our sources; check with your customs broker | Not given |
Clothing carries GCT at import. A business registered for GCT normally claims it back as input tax on its return, so for such a business it is mainly a cash-flow matter; your customs broker will confirm. Our sources do not say that duty, the levy or the fees can be reclaimed, so treat those as landed cost unless your broker advises otherwise. They also do not say whether the levy and fees enter the value GCT is charged on, which is another question for your broker.
One caution if you follow the links below: the agency’s GCT figure appears on a page answering a question about laptops. The import duty quoted there is for laptops and has no bearing on clothing.
Points that could change your figure
- Environmental Levy. The agency’s duties page gives 0.5% of the CIF value of all imports. Its site also lists recent notices headed “Increase in the Environmental Protection Levy Rate from 0.5% to 0.85%” and “Implementation New Environmental Protection Levy Rate”. The text we hold shows those headings but no start date, so we do not state that 0.85% applies to your shipment. Check with your customs broker which rate applies on your clearance date.
- Blended fabrics. Under Rule 3(b) of the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System, mixed goods that Rule 3(a) cannot settle are classified by the material that gives them their essential character. Declare fibre content and construction accurately, and ask your broker about any blend.
- Rates set by Member States. The CET’s general note says the letters A, C or D in the rate column point to lists holding the rates individual Member States apply. The agency’s site offers What’s My Duty and an Integrated Tariff Search, where your broker can confirm the rate Jamaica applies to your exact garment.
- Conditional exemptions. The CET’s List of Conditional Duty Exemptions allows some goods, imported for stated purposes, in free of duty or at a lower rate, subject always to approval by the Member State’s Competent Authority. Do not price on this unless your broker confirms that your goods and purpose qualify.
- Additional Stamp Duty. The agency’s examples are chicken, pork, beef, some aluminium products, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. Clothing is not named, but the list is of examples only, so it is worth asking your broker.
Check your own garment
We manufacture women’s dresses, kaftans, skirts and scarves in India; Talk to us about a range for the Jamaican market.
Sources
- Revised Common External Tariff of the Caribbean Community (HS 2017), revised 11 April 2018
- General Consumption Tax (GCT) — Jamaica
- Environmental Levy (ENVL) — Jamaica
Indicative information from official sources, written 7 November 2026. Rates verified on against the official tariffs. It is not a customs ruling; confirm with your customs broker before you rely on it.
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