How to export Technical clothing from the UK to China
Classify technical clothing by fabric, construction and use, then confirm the Chinese tariff line and applicable standards before shipping. Listed MFN duties range from 6% to 10%; import VAT is generally 13%. Cambridge China Bridge’s own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands.
Match the garment to its Chinese import route
For technical and protective clothing, establish the fabric, coating, construction and intended use before agreeing classification and an import route with the Chinese buyer. General trade and eligible cross-border retail require separate planning.
HMRC recorded £43.7m of UK goods exports to mainland China under 18 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £21.7m, +101.3%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £4.5m. January to July 2026: £30.1m against £21.7m in the same months of 2025 (+39.2%). These are UK exports under HS 6113-6211 (18 subheadings).
The largest UK export line was 61130090, knitted or crocheted garments impregnated, coated or covered with plastics: £42.1m in 2025. That is the total under this HS line, rather than protective clothing alone. Its corresponding Chinese tariff line is 61130000; give the buyer garment specifications rather than assuming the UK export code settles Chinese classification.
Use the exact duty line when pricing
The listed Chinese tariff lines carry the MFN rates below. Import VAT is generally 13%, calculated on customs value plus customs duty plus any consumption tax. The importer’s customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to the clothing. Border taxes add to landed cost and therefore shape the price the importer can offer; agree the Chinese tariff line before negotiating that price.
| Chinese tariff line | Rate |
|---|---|
| 61130000 | 6% |
| 61142000 | 6% |
| 61143000 | 8% |
| 61149010 | 6% |
| 61149090 | 6% |
| 62101010 | 6% |
| 62101020 | 6% |
| 62101030 | 8% |
| 62101090 | 6% |
| 62102000 | 6% |
| 62103000 | 6% |
| 62104000 | 6% |
| 62105000 | 6% |
| 62111100 | 6% |
| 62111200 | 6% |
| 62112010 | 6% |
| 62112090 | 10% |
| 62113210 | 6% |
| 62113220 | 6% |
| 62113290 | 6% |
| 62113310 | 8% |
| 62113320 | 8% |
| 62113390 | 8% |
| 62113910 | 6% |
| 62113920 | 6% |
| 62113990 | 6% |
| 62114210 | 6% |
| 62114290 | 6% |
| 62114310 | 8% |
| 62114390 | 8% |
| 62114910 | 6% |
| 62114990 | 6% |
Check textile safety against the garment specification
GB 18401-2010, China’s National General Safety Technical Code for Textile Products, is a current mandatory standard. Ask the importer’s customs broker to confirm its application to the proposed garment and intended use, and have the relevant authority confirm any further product requirements. Supply the fabric composition, coating details and intended use together so that a protective claim is assessed against the actual garment.
Prepare the UK export declaration
Exports from England, Scotland or Wales need a GB EORI and the correct commodity code. The online export declaration needs the clothing’s value, weight and packaging, destination and transport details, and invoice and packing list references. Arrange who makes that declaration before dispatch. Give the carrier the invoice and any required export licences or certificates; ensure the garment description agrees with the specifications supplied to the Chinese buyer.
Cross-border retail covers only selected lines
The cross-border e-commerce retail import list covers only part of this group: 61130000, 61142000, 61143000, 62101020, 62101030 and 62102000. These include coated knitted garments, other cotton or man-made-fibre knitted garments, specified felt or nonwoven garments, and treated-fabric men’s overcoats. Check the exact Chinese line before selecting this route for a garment.
Listed goods imported through bonded 1210 or direct 9610 channels are supervised as personal-use articles. First-import licence, registration and filing requirements are not applied, except for suspended epidemic-area goods or emergency handling of major quality and safety risks. The limits are RMB 5,000 per transaction and RMB 26,000 annually per person. This retail route cannot supply clothing for resale.
The overseas business bears the main product quality and safety responsibility and must appoint a mainland-registered company to register with customs, declare truthfully and share civil liability. Consumers must accept a risk notice before ordering: origin-country standards may differ from Chinese standards, Chinese labels may be absent with Chinese electronic labels available online, and the clothing is for personal use and cannot be resold.
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Find and check an importer before committing stock
Ask a prospective importer which garments it wants, which Chinese tariff lines it proposes and whether it intends wholesale distribution or cross-border retail. Compare its proposed route with the specifications and list coverage above. Resolve classification and textile requirements before accepting a purchase order built around an assumed duty rate.
Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached your brand, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.
We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and any required cross-border e-commerce agent remain licensed partners in China; your brand’s own filings remain yours. Use our export-to-China service to arrange that work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chinese duty on technical clothing?
Listed MFN rates are 6%, 8% or 10%, depending on the Chinese line. For example, 61130000 is 6%, 62101030 is 8% and 62112090 is 10%. Confirm classification before quoting.
Can I use UK code 61130090 on the Chinese side?
The corresponding Chinese tariff line listed here is 61130000. Send fabric, coating and construction details to the importer so Chinese classification can be confirmed separately.
Which Chinese textile standard should I check?
GB 18401-2010 is a current mandatory textile safety standard. Have the importer confirm its application to your garment and intended use, alongside any further requirements confirmed by the relevant authority.
Can all technical clothing use cross-border retail?
Only part of this group is listed: 61130000, 61142000, 61143000, 62101020, 62101030 and 62102000. Listed retail imports are for personal use and cannot be resold.