Sourcing baby clothing from China
Knitted baby garments from China pay 12% UK duty, and knitted baby gloves and mittens 8%, with no anti-dumping duty. Babywear needs a fibre composition label, and safety depends on design: no loose cords, secure fastenings and small parts, chemical testing of fabrics and prints, and nightwear labelling for babies' garments. Cambridge China Bridge sources own-label babywear.
Knitted baby clothes pay 12% UK duty from China, baby gloves 8%. Fibre labels, cords, small parts, nightwear labelling and chemical tests to plan.
Duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, knitted babies' garments of cotton, synthetic fibres or other textiles carried 12% duty on goods from China, and knitted babies' gloves, mittens and mitts 8%. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.
Woven babywear is classified in chapter 62; confirm the commodity code by fabric.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babies' garments of cotton, knitted, other than gloves | 6111 20 90 00 | 12% | None |
| Babies' gloves, mittens and mitts of cotton, knitted | 6111 20 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Babies' garments of synthetic fibres, knitted, other than gloves | 6111 30 90 00 | 12% | None |
Labels and nightwear
Article 14 of Regulation 1007/2011, as it applies in Great Britain, requires a durable, legible fibre composition label. Babies' garments are also named in the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985: regulation 4 exempts them from the children's nightwear flammability requirement but requires them to be labelled under Schedule 2, so sleepsuits and similar garments need the nightwear label.
The nightwear guide sets out the label wording.
Design safety
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 require products to be safe, and for babywear the hazards are cords and drawstrings, poppers, buttons and decorations that can come off, and stitching that can entangle fingers or toes. Specify fastenings and attachment tests, avoid cords at the neck, and check pull strength of buttons and poppers at inspection.
Ask for chemical testing of fabrics, prints and trims for restricted substances, since babies mouth their clothes.
Sizes and minimums
Babywear is sold by age size bands, often in multipacks, and the minimum order applies across the size run and each colour. Cambridge China Bridge sources own-label babywear, with labels, design safety, chemical tests and size runs settled before production. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on baby clothes from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, knitted babies' garments carried 12% duty from China, and knitted baby gloves and mittens 8%, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do baby sleepsuits need a nightwear label?
Babies' garments are exempt from the children's nightwear flammability requirement under regulation 4 of the 1985 regulations, but must be labelled under Schedule 2.
What are the main design hazards in babywear?
Cords and drawstrings, detachable poppers, buttons and decorations, and loose threads, so specify fastenings and test pull strength.
Should baby clothes be chemically tested?
Yes. Fabrics, prints and trims should be tested for restricted substances, since babies mouth their clothes.