Sourcing Faux Fur Mittens from China

Duty and the artificial-fur definition

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 4304 covers artificial fur and articles thereof. Its single commodity line, 4304 00 00 00, carries 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.

HMRC distinguishes artificial fur whose pile fibres are glued or sewn onto a backing from pile formed during knitting or weaving. Its glove guidance includes artificial-fur linings and outer coverings beyond trimming. Send your broker the material construction and a finished sample to confirm the commodity code before applying this rate.

The table contains the sole commodity line in the supplied record. For related accessories and wider sourcing context, see our faux fur earmuffs guide.

Specify pile, thumb shape and lining

Specify ordinary fashion mittens by shell and lining fibre composition, pile construction, pile height, density, direction and colour. Set palm width, hand length, thumb position, cuff opening and elastic recovery against an approved sample. Agree lining attachment, seam finish, shedding acceptance and care instructions.

For textile mittens sold in Great Britain, the label must show fibre content; components with different fibre contents must have their contents shown. Approve the shell and lining label wording against the actual materials.

Consumer products placed on the Great Britain market must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess loose decorations, exposed fastenings and shedding for the intended wearer, and agree suitable checks before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 pairs of faux fur mittens, illustrative only under 4304 00 00 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 2% is £190. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,690, so it is £1,938. Import taxes total £2,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £190 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Materials: examine the pile backing for unexpected skin, compare fibres with the specification and arrange identification testing if authenticity is uncertain.

Fit and pairing: try on sampled pairs, checking thumb position, palm space, cuff pressure and matching size, shade and pile direction.

Seams and lining: check thumb junctions and cuff joins for gaps, trapped pile and loose threads; withdraw the hand to see whether the lining pulls out.

Finish and labels: brush and rub samples against the agreed acceptance criteria, compare colour with the approved sample, and check composition labels, care instructions and dry packing.

What goes wrong

A mitten can look correct outside but have a twisted thumb lining, tight cuff or weak thumb seam. Mismatched pile direction makes a pair look different in colour, while loose fibres transfer onto clothing. Inspect the finished pair after handling and after cleaning according to the proposed care instructions.

A supplier's description of fabric as faux fur does not settle tariff classification. Obtain the backing construction before ordering, and investigate any suspected real-fur substitution. Record the approved sample and rejection criteria in the inspection brief.

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.