Sourcing felt berets from China
Felt berets from China carry 2% to 4% UK duty, depending on material and manufacture, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm fibre composition-labelling requirements, including durability and legibility, with the relevant authority. Specify the felt, head opening and finished shape against an approved sample. Cambridge China Bridge sources felt berets.
Duty and material-dependent controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6505 covers textile headgear including felt berets. Hand-made wool berets and other textile berets carry 2% duty; qualifying fur felt or wool-and-fur felt berets made from hat bodies, hoods or plateaux carry 4%. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The recorded suspension applies only to disposable hair nets, not berets.
The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal product import controls. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import. Seal products for trade in Great Britain must have a seal catch certificate; confirm exemption eligibility with your customs broker before ordering any seal material. For CITES materials from China, ask your broker to confirm the species-specific documents and admissibility before shipment.
Ask the factory for fibre composition, any fur species and the manufacturing method, then confirm the commodity code. The table separates material variants, so some share a code. See the wider caps and hats guide. The worked order values are illustrative; see import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made wool berets | 6505 00 90 10 | 2% | None |
| Other wool felt berets | 6505 00 90 90 | 2% | None |
| Fur felt or wool-and-fur felt berets made from hat bodies, hoods or plateaux | 6505 00 10 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the felt, opening and beret shape
Specify fibre composition, felt weight and thickness, surface finish, firmness, colour, head opening and outer diameter. Agree how each measurement is taken. State whether the edge is folded, bound or fitted with a sweatband, and whether the beret has a lining, top stem, badge or embroidery. Approve a physical sample showing the intended drape.
Confirm fibre composition-labelling requirements for textile berets, including durability and legibility, with the relevant authority. Check the label against the actual material. Agree care information with the factory and test the proposed cleaning method on the sample before printing it. For fur blends or trims, request the animal species rather than accepting a generic description.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business order of assorted wool felt berets under 6505 00 90 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 2% is £68. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,468, so it is £693.60. Import taxes total £761.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £68 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit and shape: measure the head opening and outer diameter against the approved sample, try the fit, and check that the beret sits evenly without a twisted edge.
Felt and colour: compare thickness, density and surface finish across colours; check shedding, thin patches, pilling and colour transfer from the felt and sweatband.
Finish and labels: check lining seams, edge binding, top stem and badge attachments; compare fibre labels, size labels and care information with the agreed specification.
Arrival and packing: inspect for dampness, mould, odour and persistent creases; unpack samples to check shape recovery and reconcile colours and sizes with the packing list. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
Berets fail when the opening is too tight, the felt is too stiff to drape, or loose felt loses its shape. Uneven shrinking can leave a wavy edge. Dark dyes can transfer to the forehead or lining, while poorly secured badges and stems detach during handling.
Tightly compressed packing can leave creases, and damp felt can arrive with mould or odour. Agree packing using the approved sample, check it after unpacking, and retain a production sample for comparison. Keep suspect cartons separate while investigating the affected batch.
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 felt berets from China?
The supplied tariff records show 2% for hand-made wool berets and other textile berets, or 4% for qualifying fur felt and wool-and-fur felt berets. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Do wool felt berets need a fibre label?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether a fibre composition label or marking is required, including any durability and legibility requirements. Check the label against the felt used in production.
Can felt berets use the hair-net duty suspension?
No. The supplied tariff footnote limits the suspension to disposable hair nets. It does not cover felt berets.
What should I check before approving a beret sample?
Check the head opening, outer diameter, drape, felt density, colour transfer and edge finish. Include the lining, labels and decorations, then unpack the sample from the proposed shipping pack.