Sourcing dressed beaver furskins from China

Duty depends on the form of the beaver skin

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 4302 covers tanned or dressed furskins, including loose pieces and skins assembled without other materials. Whole unassembled beaver skins and loose pieces carry 0% duty for goods from China; dropped skins and other assembled beaver panels carry 2%. The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.

The selected codes attach restrictions on entry into free circulation and CITES import and export controls. Controlled wild-caught fur requires acceptable certification of an approved source. For CITES-listed specimens moving into Great Britain, obtain the UK permit and the corresponding permit from the other country. Shared codes also attach seal-product controls, with cat and dog fur controls on pieces and dropped skins. The loose-pieces code attaches waste controls; ask your customs broker to confirm applicability to the consignment.

Confirm the commodity code using the species, dressing and assembly details. A duty rate does not establish that the consignment is admissible. For the wider heading, see dressed muskrat furskins.

Specify the pelt source and usable beaver skin

Specify the scientific species name, where the animal originated, whether it was wild-caught or captive-bred, and where dressing took place. Ask for source records that follow the pelts through processing. Have the broker confirm the applicable origin restriction and acceptable certification before ordering; a Chinese dressing address alone does not establish the animal's source.

Agree whole skins, loose cuttings or assembled panels; usable dimensions after trimming; allowable holes and repairs; leather softness; natural or dyed colour; and plucked, sheared or unsheared finish. For panels, agree seam construction and colour matching. Keep an approved sample showing the required underfur density and finish.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 300 whole dressed beaver skins, subject to import checks under 4302 19 15 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,500, so it is £1,900. 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

Identity and records: match the species and source documents to the shipment and carton identification. Arrange independent species testing if identity is uncertain.

Usable area: measure against the agreed specification and mark bald patches, holes, repaired cuts and weak edges. Check panel seams from both sides.

Dressing and fur: flex the leather, check for brittleness, grease and persistent odour, and assess shedding by brushing and a controlled hair-pull check.

Colour and packing: compare skins with the approved sample, check dye transfer with a rub test, and inspect for dampness or mould on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A supplier describes where the skin was dressed but cannot trace where the animal originated. Resolve that gap before placing the order. Physical failures include brittle leather, excessive shedding, mismatched dyed skins and repairs that reduce usable cutting area. Record defects by batch before mixing stock.

Do not copy loose-skin descriptions onto finished garments without reviewing classification and labels. For textile products containing fur trim, confirm any required animal-origin wording with the relevant authority and consult the site's published fur guide. Agree who supplies any required labels before the skins enter garment production.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.