Sourcing knitted anti-static gloves from China

UK duty on knitted anti-static gloves

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6116 covers knitted or crocheted gloves, mittens and mitts. The supplied Chinese-origin lines carry 8% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Qualifying gloves impregnated or covered with plastics or rubber have a 0% suspension. The published work-glove guide explains claiming it with document code 9Y11 until 31 December 2028. Uncoated cotton and synthetic-fibre gloves remain at 8%.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal product controls. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur products are banned. Commercial seal products can only be imported and placed on the market for sale in limited cases under strict conditions; confirm any applicable indigenous-hunt exemption and attestation requirements with your customs broker before ordering any animal-derived additions. The wool and other-textile-material lines also carry CITES controls: if considering those materials, ask your broker to confirm the applicable requirement for goods from China.

Confirm the commodity code from the fibre composition, coating material and whether the glove is laminated. An anti-static description alone does not identify a tariff line. For the wider heading and mechanical-protection specifications, see knitted cut-resistant gloves.

Specify conductive yarn and glove performance

State the liner fibre blend, conductive yarn material and distribution, knitting gauge, cuff construction, sizes and coating coverage. Specify whether the glove has coated fingertips, a coated palm or no coating. Agree electrical resistance acceptance criteria, the measurement method, contact positions, conditioning humidity and temperature, and whether testing covers new gloves or gloves after the agreed washing method.

Describe whether the intended use is component handling or protection of the wearer. For gloves claiming mechanical protection beyond superficial injury, confirm the applicable PPE assessment and CE or UKCA route with the relevant authority before relying on the published work-glove guide. Obtain certificates and reports for the exact model. For textile labelling in Great Britain, official guidance requires fibre content, including fur and other animal parts; agree the label wording before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 pairs of uncoated synthetic-fibre knitted anti-static gloves; FOB value and freight are illustrative. under 6116 93 00 00, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,200. Duty at 8% is £176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,376, so it is £475.20. Import taxes total £651.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Conductive construction: compare yarn identity and distribution with the approved sample; inspect fingertips, palm and cuff for broken yarns, missed stitches and loose ends.

Resistance: test production samples using the agreed method and conditioning; record the model, size, batch and measurement positions. Repeat the agreed checks on arrival.

Coating and handling: check coverage, penetration into the liner, peeling and grip with the intended components; assess lint shedding and fingertip dexterity against the approved sample.

Fit and documents: measure palm width and finger length, check cuff recovery and pair counts, and match labels and reports to the supplied model. Use the inspection guide to agree the records.

What goes wrong

Bulk gloves can use a different conductive yarn or coating from the approval sample. A report may cover another model, or omit the humidity and contact positions needed to compare results. Loose fingertips reduce handling control, while coating penetration makes the liner stiff. Lint and loose yarn ends can interfere with component handling.

Keep an approved sample and require written approval for yarn or coating substitutions. Agree checks after washing if reuse is intended. Do not treat an anti-static claim as evidence of electrical insulation or suitability for every workplace hazard. Resolve unsupported protection claims before accepting the 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.