How to export Watches and clocks from the UK to China
Classify each watch or clock, agree the Chinese tariff line with your importer and choose wholesale or eligible cross-border retail before quoting. Duty and import VAT affect the buyer's landed cost. Cambridge China Bridge's own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands.
Choose the route; UK exports under HS 9101-9114 (48 subheadings)
For Watches and clocks, start with the model's classification and intended sales route. The cross-border retail list covers only selected watch lines, so a wholesale proposal needs its own assessment. Have the importer establish applicable product requirements before committing stock. The largest listed UK export line to mainland China was clocks with watch movements, excluding electrically operated clocks, under HS 910390, at £70k in 2025.
HMRC recorded £472k of UK goods exports to mainland China under 48 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £711k, -33.6%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £435.8m. January to July 2026: £538k against £178k in the same months of 2025 (+202%). These are UK exports under HS 9101-9114 (48 subheadings).
Price by Chinese tariff line
The 2026 Customs Import and Export Tariff distinguishes precious-metal watches, other watches, clocks and movements. Do not quote one duty rate for the whole range. Chinese line 91059110 has a 2% MFN rate, while 91059190 has 15%; line 91081100 has a 16% MFN rate and a provisional 2026 rate of 10%. The selected lines below show why the importer needs the precise classification.
Import VAT normally uses the 13% rate, subject to the VAT Law's exceptions. Its base is customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax. The importer's customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to the watch or clock. These border taxes add to landed cost and shape the price the importer can offer.
| Chinese tariff line | Rate |
|---|---|
| 91011100 | 8% |
| 91012100 | 8% |
| 91021100 | 10% |
| 91021200 | 15% |
| 91021900 | 8% |
| 91022100 | 11% |
| 91039000 | 15% |
| 91051100 | 15% |
| 91059110 | 2% |
| 91059190 | 15% |
| 91081100 | 16% / 10% (2026) |
| 91131000 | 20% |
Prepare the UK shipment by model
Find the UK commodity code for each model and each separately supplied movement or component. For exports from England, Wales or Scotland, obtain an EORI number starting GB. Give the declarant the code, value, weight, packaging, destination and transport details, together with invoice and packing list references. An assembled watch and a separately supplied movement should each be assessed against the relevant product description.
Exports from England, Scotland and Wales to China use the online export declaration service. Agree who will make the declaration and supply the carrier with the invoice and any applicable export licences or certificates. Keep model descriptions consistent across the quotation and shipment information so the importer can compare them with the proposed Chinese tariff line.
Check the watch's cross-border eligibility
The cross-border retail list includes Chinese lines 91011100, 91011990, 91012100, 91021100, 91021200 and 91021900. For 91012100, goods in the wildlife species trade catalogue are excluded if the specified certificate confirming a species outside that catalogue cannot be provided. For listed goods using bonded 1210 or direct 9610 retail imports, personal-use supervision removes first-import licence, registration and filing requirements, subject to the stated epidemic and emergency-risk exceptions.
The overseas seller retains primary product quality and safety responsibility and must appoint a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declarations and shared civil liability. Consumers must accept a risk notice covering possible differences from Chinese standards, possible absence of Chinese labels, online Chinese e-labels and no resale. The limits are RMB 5,000 per transaction and RMB 26,000 annually per person.
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Check the Chinese buyer before committing
Give a prospective importer model specifications and proposed tariff lines, then ask how it will handle the intended route and landed-cost assessment. 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 check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed. Use our export-to-China service for this work.
We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and, for the cross-border route described above, the cross-border e-commerce agent remain licensed partners' regulated roles in China. Your brand's own filings remain your brand's. Agree the watch models and route before commissioning that work.
Frequently asked questions
What duty applies to watches imported into China?
It depends on the Chinese tariff line: 91011100 has an 8% MFN rate, 91021100 has 10% and 91022100 has 11%. Classify the model before using a rate in your quotation.
Can I sell British watches through cross-border retail?
Selected lines qualify, including 91011100, 91011990 and 91012100. The wildlife-related remark for 91012100 must also be checked. Retail imports are for personal use and cannot be resold.
Are watch movements taxed like complete watches?
Use the movement's own tariff line. Chinese line 91081100 has a 16% MFN rate and a provisional 2026 rate of 10%; lines 91081200 and 91081900 have 16% MFN rates.
What should I give the UK export declarant?
For your watches, provide the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references. Exports from England, Wales or Scotland require a GB EORI.