Sourcing cantilever garden parasols from China

Garden parasols: 4% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 6601 covers umbrellas and sun umbrellas, including garden umbrellas. Complete cantilever garden parasols fall within garden or similar umbrellas, code 6601 10 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing this commodity line.

The supplied record lists 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Separately supplied bases may need a different classification. The wider umbrellas and parasols guide covers the other umbrella types.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual shipment, including whether the base and ballast are supplied together. Use the import duty and VAT guide when budgeting the landed cost.

Specify the canopy, cantilever arm and ballast

Specify canopy shape and open dimensions, clearance beneath the canopy, pole and arm materials, rib construction, fabric composition and weight, coating and colour. Record the crank, tilt and rotation functions, locking positions, replacement canopy fit and protective cover. State exactly which base, ballast and fixing hardware are included.

Agree stability and wind testing for the complete assembly with its intended ballast. Ask for evidence supporting any ultraviolet protection claim. For umbrella coverings containing at least 80% textile components by weight, confirm any fibre-labelling requirements and permitted fibre names with Trading Standards.

For consumer sales in Great Britain, the importer must ensure the product is safe before placing it on the market. Consumers must receive relevant information about non-obvious risks and precautions. Ask the supplier to explain assembly, ballast, locking, wind precautions and safe closing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 80 cantilever garden parasols under 6601 10 00 00, invoiced at £23,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,800. Duty at 4% is £992. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,792, so it is £5,158.40. Import taxes total £6,150.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £992 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Assembly and stability: assemble arrival samples using the supplied instructions and hardware. Check base fit, ballast weight against the specification, arm alignment and stability with the canopy open and tilted.

Mechanisms: repeatedly operate the crank, tilt and rotation controls. Check locks hold, cables do not fray, joints do not loosen and accessible moving parts do not create obvious trapping hazards.

Canopy and finish: compare fabric, fibre label, dimensions and colour with the approved sample. Check seams, rib pockets, water repellency, coating damage and evidence supporting claimed ultraviolet protection.

Instructions and traceability: check the assembly and safety information. Where reasonable, the product or packaging must show the producer's name and address and a product or batch reference. Agree these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A canopy sample does not establish the stability of the finished parasol. Missing ballast, an incompatible base or a loose rotation lock can leave the assembled product unstable. Check the exact base and ballast combination before shipment and again on arrival.

Cranks can slip, cables can rub against sharp edges, and tilt joints can loosen. Poor packing can bend the cantilever arm or damage the coating. Include spare hardware identification, protection around projecting parts and an assembly trial in the purchase specification.

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.