Sourcing folding chairs from China
The selected folding-chair lines from China carry 0% UK duty throughout, with no listed anti-dumping duty. Consumer chairs supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use; check folding locks, stability and any domestic upholstery fire requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources folding chairs.
Zero duty on the selected folding-chair lines
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the selected complete folding-chair lines under heading 9401 carried 0% duty for goods from China. They cover upholstered and non-upholstered wooden or metal frames and other seats. These lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspension. Frame material and upholstery matter when choosing the code.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and torture and repression import controls to these lines. For China-sourced chairs containing species listed in Annex A, B or C, obtain the relevant CITES permit and confirm the species-specific requirements with your customs broker. Cat and dog fur products are banned. The tariff also attaches the torture and repression control; ask your broker to confirm its application to your chair.
Confirm the commodity code against the finished chair rather than the supplier's product name. The banquet chairs guide covers related seating within the wider heading. Allow for 20% import VAT and use the duty and VAT guide when preparing the landed-cost calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden-frame folding chairs, upholstered | 9401 61 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Wooden-frame folding chairs, not upholstered | 9401 69 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Metal-frame folding chairs, upholstered | 9401 71 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Metal-frame folding chairs, not upholstered | 9401 79 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other folding chairs, including all-plastic chairs | 9401 80 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the folding mechanism and intended use
State whether the chair is for domestic dining, event hire or outdoor use. Specify frame material, tube profile, hinges, rivets, locking method, seat attachment, foot caps, folded dimensions and packing arrangement. Agree the intended user load and the strength, stability and repeated-folding tests before production. Keep an approved sample that shows how the lock engages and releases.
Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. For upholstered chairs sold for homes, confirm the applicable furniture fire safety requirements with the relevant authority. Ask for evidence covering the actual foam, cover and chair construction, and agree any independent testing and certification before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 400 upholstered metal-frame folding chairs under 9401 71 00 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,500, so it is £5,100. 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
Mechanism: open and close sampled chairs, check that locks engage fully, and inspect hinges for loose rivets, sharp edges and finger traps.
Frame: check welds, bracing and seat fixings against the approved sample; inspect for distortion and rocking on a level surface.
Seat and finish: check fabric tension, padding attachment, plastic cracks, timber splits, coating damage and secure foot caps.
Packing: inspect hinge protection and separation between frames; check for rubbing, bent legs and missing instructions on arrival.
What goes wrong
A chair may look correct while its locking catch only partly engages. Loose pivots, distorted frames and weak seat fixings can appear after repeated folding or use. Check a production sample through the agreed folding and loading tests, rather than accepting a showroom sample alone.
Changes to foam or fabric can leave an upholstery report unrelated to the delivered chair. Frames packed against each other can arrive scratched or bent. Record the approved materials, lock design and packing method, and compare the shipment with that record before releasing it for sale or hire.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on folding chairs from China?
The selected wooden-frame, metal-frame and other complete folding-chair lines carry 0% duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the code for your construction.
Which commodity code covers a metal folding chair?
Metal-frame upholstered chairs fall under 9401 71 00 00; non-upholstered metal-frame chairs fall under 9401 79 00 00. Confirm the finished construction before declaring.
Do padded folding chairs need fire safety checks?
For upholstered chairs sold for homes, confirm the applicable furniture fire safety requirements with the relevant authority. Check evidence for the actual cover, filling and construction.
What should I inspect when folding chairs arrive?
Check lock engagement, loose pivots, welds, seat fixings, stability, foot caps and packing damage. Compare materials and mechanism operation with the approved sample.