Sourcing chamois and patent leather from China
Chamois leather from China pays 2.5% UK duty, while patent leather, patent laminated leather and metallised leather pay 0%, under heading 4114, with no anti-dumping duty. Chamois is oil-tanned, usually sheep or lamb skin, sold for cleaning cars and windows; patent leather is lacquered for shoes and bags. Patent leather in skin contact must meet the UK REACH chromium VI limit.
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2.5% or 0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 4114 covers chamois (including combination chamois) leather, and patent leather, patent laminated leather and metallised leather. Chamois of sheep or lambs and of other animals carried 2.5% on goods from China; patent and metallised leather carried 0%. No line carried anti-dumping duty. A tariff suspension on the other-animal chamois line is limited to named products.
The lines carry a CITES import control, which matters only for hides and leather of listed species; ordinary domestic cattle and horse leather is generally not listed, but some wild bovine and equine species are, so check the exact species and keep species records.
Synthetic chamois cloths of plastics or textiles are other headings; check the material and confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamois leather of sheep or lambs | 4114 10 10 00 | 2.5% | None |
| Chamois leather of other animals | 4114 10 90 00 | 2.5% | None |
| Patent leather, patent laminated leather and metallised leather | 4114 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specification and chromium VI
For chamois, specify genuine oil-tanned skin rather than synthetic, the skin size, thickness, absorbency and softness, and packing for retail. For patent leather, specify base leather, finish, flex resistance and colour.
Chromium VI is the substance to control. Entry 47 of Annex XVII to UK REACH prohibits placing on the market leather articles coming into contact with the skin, or articles with leather parts in skin contact, where the leather contains chromium VI at 3 mg/kg or more of its total dry weight. Most leather is chrome tanned, and chromium VI can form in storage and finishing, so ask for a chromium VI test report on each lot of leather destined for footwear, gloves, bags or garments.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20,000 retail chamois leathers under 4114 10 10 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,900. Duty at 2.5% is £422.50. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,322.50, so it is £3,464.50. Import taxes total £3,887; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £422.50 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Chamois: check it is genuine oil-tanned skin and test absorbency.
Patent: check finish, cracking on flexing and colour.
Tests: check chromium VI for skin-contact uses. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Chamois and patent leather orders fail on authenticity and finish. Synthetic chamois is supplied as genuine, skins are smaller than agreed, and patent finish cracks when flexed.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on chamois leather from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, chamois under 4114 10 carried 2.5% from China.
What is the duty on patent leather from China?
Patent, patent laminated and metallised leather under 4114 20 00 00 carried 0%.
Is a synthetic chamois cloth in heading 4114?
No. Only genuine chamois leather is 4114; synthetic cloths are classified by their material.
Does the chromium VI limit apply to patent leather?
Yes, where it is used in articles that touch the skin, under UK REACH entry 47.