Sourcing handkerchiefs from China
Textile handkerchiefs from China, of cotton, silk or other materials, hand-made or not, pay 10% UK duty on all 4 lines of heading 6213, with no anti-dumping duty. Paper tissues are a different heading. Handkerchiefs sold to consumers need fibre content labelling, and printed or embroidered promotional ranges are checked for colour fastness and hem quality.
Cotton, silk and other textile handkerchiefs from China pay 10% UK duty. Fibre labels, print quality and hem checks for gift and promotional ranges explained.
10% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 6213 covers handkerchiefs of textile materials: of cotton, and of other textile materials including silk, with hand-made and other lines. All 4 lines carried 10% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure and no tariff suspension.
Paper handkerchiefs and tissues are heading 4818 (see our toilet paper and tissue guide), and squares larger than handkerchiefs, such as bandanas and neckerchiefs, are classified as shawls and scarves, so confirm the commodity code from the size and use.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of cotton, hand-made | 6213 20 00 10 | 10% | None |
| Of cotton, other | 6213 20 00 90 | 10% | None |
| Of silk or silk waste | 6213 90 00 10 | 10% | None |
| Of other textile materials | 6213 90 00 90 | 10% | None |
Labelling
Handkerchiefs sold to consumers are textile products, so they need fibre content labelling under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, on the item or its packaging. Printed and dyed handkerchiefs should also be free of the azo colourants restricted under entry 43 of Annex XVII to UK REACH.
Specifying handkerchiefs
Specify size, fabric (lawn, poplin, satin silk), thread count and weight, hem type and width, print or embroidery artwork and colours, monogram placement, folding, and retail packaging such as boxes of three or gift sleeves.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 20,000 printed cotton handkerchiefs, commodity code 6213 20 00 90, bought for £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance, so £7,700 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 10% rate for handkerchiefs is £770. VAT at 20% applies to £8,470, so £1,694. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £770 to the landed cost. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Fabric and size: check fibre content against the label, measure finished size and squareness, and check fabric weight and handle against the sample.
Print and embroidery: compare colours with the approved sample, check registration and print coverage on thin fabric, and test colour fastness to washing to ISO 105-C06.
Finish: check hems are even and secure, corners neat, no loose threads or stains, and folding and packaging as specified.
What goes wrong
Handkerchief orders fail on fabric, print and hems. A lighter, lower thread count fabric is substituted, prints bleed on the first wash, hems wander or fray at the corners, and silk handkerchiefs turn out to be polyester satin.
Approve a sample of each design, test washing and check fibre content. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources printed and embroidered handkerchiefs for UK gift, wedding and promotional buyers, from small first runs. See small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on handkerchiefs from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, textile handkerchiefs under 6213 carried 10% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Are paper tissues in the same heading?
No. Paper handkerchiefs and tissues are heading 4818.
Do handkerchiefs need a fibre label?
Yes, when sold to consumers, under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012.
Is a bandana a handkerchief for customs?
Larger squares worn as bandanas or neckerchiefs are generally shawls and scarves, not handkerchiefs; confirm the code.