Sourcing knitted baby swimsuits from China
Knitted baby swimsuits from China under heading 6111 carry 12% UK duty across the relevant garment lines, with no trade remedies recorded. Fibre composition must be labelled; confirm applicable babywear safety requirements with the relevant authority. Specify wet opacity, fit and secure trims. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted baby swimsuits.
UK duty on knitted baby swimsuits
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6111 covers babies' garments and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted. The swimsuit garment lines shown carry a flat 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded. Babies' garments generally must be intended for infants of a body height not more than 86cm.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product controls, with CITES import controls on some other-material lines. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported. Commercial seal products for Great Britain must qualify under the Inuit or other indigenous communities hunting exemption and have a seal catch attestation. If animal-derived materials are proposed, ask your customs broker to confirm species, permits and declaration requirements for the Chinese shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the knitted construction, fibre composition and intended wearer. Use the other-material rows only where the actual composition supports them. Send your broker the fabric breakdown and size chart before shipping. The baby clothing guide covers the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knitted baby swimsuits of synthetic fibres | 6111 30 90 00 | 12% | None |
| Knitted baby swimsuits of cotton | 6111 20 90 00 | 12% | None |
| Knitted baby swimsuits of artificial fibres | 6111 90 90 19 | 12% | None |
| Knitted baby swimsuits of other textiles, excluding wool and fine animal hair | 6111 90 90 90 | 12% | None |
Specify fabric, wet fit and swimsuit construction
State the shell and lining composition, fabric weight, stretch direction and recovery, and whether the suit will be worn over a swim nappy. Agree torso length, chest, leg openings and strap placement against a graded measurement chart. Approve wet and dry samples, checking coverage, opacity and whether the lining rolls out at the edges.
Babywear must have a fibre composition label; confirm applicable safety requirements with the relevant authority. Approve durable, legible label wording before production. Avoid neck cords and detachable decorations; specify secure fastenings and attachment checks. Agree tests for restricted substances in fabrics, prints and trims, plus colour transfer, chlorinated-water exposure and washing as purchasing checks.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 knitted baby swimsuits; FOB value and freight are illustrative, not a quotation. under 6111 30 90 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,700. Duty at 12% is £324. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,024, so it is £604.80. Import taxes total £928.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £324 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Clothing designed for babies and young children is zero-rated under HMRC's VAT Notice 714, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product.
Inspection checklist
Fit and recovery: measure production samples against the size chart, stretch straps and leg openings, and check recovery after wetting and drying.
Fabric and colour: inspect opacity when wet and stretched, lining coverage, print cracking and colour transfer onto a light cloth after the agreed water-exposure checks.
Seams and trims: stretch crotch and side seams, check for skipped stitches and exposed elastic, and pull-test fastenings and decorations before and after washing.
Labels and arrival: compare fibre labels with approved wording, check size and colour assortments, and inspect cartons for dampness or dye transfer. Use the inspection guide to organise checks before shipment and on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A dry sample can conceal a swimsuit that turns transparent when wet, stretches too far over a swim nappy or develops loose leg openings. Substituted elastic can lose recovery, while tight stitching breaks when the fabric stretches. Rough seam allowances and zip ends can rub against skin.
Keep an approved wet-tested sample and record the shell, lining, elastic and construction in the order. Repeat agreed exposure and washing checks on production garments. Hold any batch with detached trims, broken seams or an unexplained material change while the supplier investigates.
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 knitted baby swimsuits from China?
The relevant garment lines under heading 6111 carry 12% duty from China. The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
Do knitted baby swimsuits need fibre labels?
Yes. Fibre composition must be labelled. Approve durable, legible wording and check production labels against the actual fabric composition.
How should I check baby swimsuit samples?
Check them wet and dry, including opacity under stretch, fit over the intended swim nappy, elastic recovery, seam stretch and trim attachment. Repeat the agreed checks on production samples.
Is import VAT charged on baby swimsuits?
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether the actual swimsuits qualify for zero-rating, including any applicable size and design criteria, before calculating import VAT.