Sourcing finished deerskin leather from China
Finished deerskin leather under 4113 90 00 00 carries 2% UK duty from China, so the duty range for this product is a single rate. Confirm the deer species and complete tanning: fully tanned hides are exempt from veterinary border checks, while CITES requirements depend on the species. Cambridge China Bridge sources finished deerskin leather.
Duty and controls for finished deerskin
Heading 4113 covers leather further prepared after tanning or crusting, without wool or hair, whether split or unsplit, excluding leather of heading 4114. Finished deerskin falls within the other-animal line, 4113 90 00 00. The table shows specification options sharing that line. See finished speciality leather for the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the supplied data records 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. It attaches CITES import and export controls, cat and dog fur import and export controls, and a seal-products import control. Cat and dog fur imports are banned; seal products face a ban with limited exceptions. Obtain species evidence for the deerskin shipment.
Confirm the animal, absence of hair, tanning stage and surface treatment before declaring the code. Use finding your commodity code, and ask your customs broker to confirm which attached controls apply to the documented species. The tariff control labels alone do not establish that a particular deer species needs a permit.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished deerskin leather, unsplit | 4113 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify species, usable area and finish
Ask the factory for the deer species, hide origin and tanning records. Specify full-grain or split leather, thickness tolerance, colour, surface coating, softness and intended use. Agree usable cutting area and how holes, scars and weak belly sections are excluded from acceptance. Keep an approved hide and shade sample for comparison.
APHA guidance exempts completely tanned hides from veterinary border checks. Confirm complete tanning rather than relying on the supplier's word ‘finished’. For CITES-listed material, confirm the required import and export documents before shipment from China; Annex A specimens can only be imported in exceptional circumstances.
REACH restrictions can limit or ban substances used in articles. Brief a laboratory on the intended skin contact and ask it to assess the relevant chemical restrictions for the finished leather. Agree testing for chromium and restricted dye substances against the actual finish and colour through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A workshop trial batch of finished deerskins; order value and freight are illustrative under 4113 90 00 00, invoiced at £4,113 free on board, with £2,026 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,139. Duty at 2% is £122.78. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,261.78, so it is £1,252.36. Import taxes total £1,375.14; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £122.78 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the documented deer species, hide origin, tanning records and batch identification to the delivered leather.
Cutting yield: check usable area, holes, scars, thin edges and weak sections against the agreed cutting patterns.
Finish: compare thickness, softness, grain, shade and coating with the approved sample; check colour transfer with dry and damp rubbing.
Arrival condition: look for mould, damp packing, sticking surfaces and persistent odour; keep affected bundles separate while investigating. Use quality inspection to define the acceptance checks.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A hide can meet the declared total area yet yield too few usable pieces because scars and weak edges occupy the cutting zones. Heavy coatings can disguise grain defects or change the softness needed for gloves and garment panels. Assess cutting yield and handle together rather than accepting appearance alone.
A generic ‘deer leather’ invoice leaves species-dependent controls unresolved. A report for another colour or finish also gives poor evidence for the delivered batch. Resolve identity and testing gaps before dispatch, and investigate dampness or colour transfer before cutting the leather.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on finished deerskin leather from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 2% for 4113 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line.
Does finished deerskin leather need veterinary border checks?
APHA says completely tanned hides are exempt from veterinary border checks. Obtain tanning records; a supplier describing leather as ‘finished’ does not establish its treatment.
Do I need CITES documents for deerskin from China?
It depends on the deer species. Identify it and confirm the applicable import and export documents with APHA and your broker. Annex A imports are limited to exceptional circumstances.
What should I specify when buying finished deerskins?
Specify species, full-grain or split construction, thickness tolerance, usable cutting area, colour, softness and coating. Agree acceptable scars and holes using your cutting patterns.