Sourcing baby high chairs from China
The selected baby high-chair and seat-part lines carry UK duty of 0% to 2% from China: complete wooden, metal-framed and plastic high chairs are 0%, while separate wooden seat parts are 2%. Before sale in Great Britain, the product must be safe, including its fire safety. Cambridge China Bridge sources baby high chairs.
Zero duty on complete high chairs
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 9401 covers seats and their parts. The selected complete high-chair lines carry 0% duty from China; separate wooden seat parts carry 2%, and other selected seat parts 0%. These lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The worked order is illustrative, not a supplier quotation.
The complete-seat lines attach CITES and torture-goods import controls; the selected lines also attach cat and dog fur controls. For CITES-listed materials, confirm the permits with your customs broker before shipment. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported into Great Britain. The restraint-chair prohibition excludes chairs fitted only with straps or belts. The data also lists cultural-object and other export controls; ask your broker to confirm their relevance if re-exporting.
Send frame materials, upholstery details, photographs and the assembly drawing to your broker to confirm the commodity code. A plastic seat on metal legs needs assessment as a complete product. For the wider nursery range, see baby-product sourcing and safety.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden-framed high chairs, upholstered | 9401 61 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Wooden-framed high chairs, not upholstered | 9401 69 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Metal-framed high chairs, upholstered | 9401 71 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Metal-framed high chairs, not upholstered | 9401 79 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other high chairs, including plastic seats without wood or metal frames | 9401 80 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Wooden high-chair seat parts, imported separately | 9401 91 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Other high-chair seat parts, imported separately | 9401 99 80 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the harness, locks and feeding tray
Specify frame material, seat and footrest adjustment, intended user range, harness routing, buckle design, crotch restraint, tray attachment and folding mechanism. Agree how the chair is cleaned and whether food is placed directly on the tray. Approve drawings and a complete assembled sample before production.
Use BS EN 14988 as the high-chair testing specification, as described in our published children's furniture guide. Ask for reports matching the exact frame, harness, tray and folding mechanism. Products supplied in Great Britain must be safe; include fire safety in the assessment. Arrange testing and certification before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 wooden high chairs, illustrative order only under 9401 69 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,000, so it is £5,000. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Restraints: check buckle engagement, strap stitching, adjustment and anchorage against the approved sample.
Locks and stability: assemble the chair, check leg seating and folding locks, and compare stability and entrapment checks with the agreed laboratory test plan.
Tray and finish: check tray retention, sharp edges, accessible gaps, coating damage and cleaning access around joints.
Cartons and instructions: count fittings, assemble using the supplied English instructions, and check model and batch references against the reports and order.
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What goes wrong
Look for a buckle that appears closed without engaging, straps routed incorrectly, folding locks that do not seat fully, and trays that detach when pulled. Missing fittings, uneven legs and damaged joints can make an otherwise approved design unsafe.
A report for a similar chair leaves changes to the harness, frame or tray unassessed. Freeze the tested construction and require approval before substitutions. On arrival, isolate chairs with restraint, locking or stability defects while the cause is investigated.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on baby high chairs from China?
The selected complete high-chair lines carry 0% duty. Separate wooden seat parts carry 2%; other selected seat parts carry 0%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is shown for these lines.
Which safety standard should I specify for baby high chairs?
Specify BS EN 14988 for high-chair testing and obtain a report matching the actual production model, including its harness, tray and folding mechanism.
Can I rely on a supplier's report for a similar high chair?
Ask for evidence covering your exact construction. Compare the tested sample with production drawings, materials, buckle, straps, tray and locks before accepting the report.
What should I check when imported high chairs arrive?
Check assembly, harness anchorage, buckle engagement, folding locks, tray retention, stability, accessible gaps, fittings and instructions against the approved sample and inspection plan.