Sourcing knitted bolero jackets from China
Knitted bolero jackets under the relevant heading 6110 lines carry 12% UK duty from China; the wider heading ranges from 10% to 12%. Fibre composition must be labelled, and the code needs checking against the actual garment rather than its sales name. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted bolero jackets.
Duty on knitted bolero jackets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6110 covers jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar knitted or crocheted articles. The bolero candidates listed here carry 12% duty from China. The heading's 10% exception concerns qualifying heavy wool jerseys and pullovers, rather than a general discount for wool boleros. The supplied data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product import controls. Imports of cat or dog fur, including products made from it, are banned. Seal products for trade into Great Britain require a seal catch certificate; confirm exemption eligibility with your customs broker before ordering any seal trim from China. Other fine-animal-hair and other-textile-material lines also attach CITES controls: CITES specimens require an import permit, so confirm the species and applicable China requirements with your broker.
Treat these as candidate lines, not a classification based solely on the word bolero. Confirm the commodity code from fibre composition, knitted construction and garment design, especially where the garment resembles an outer jacket. See the knitted cardigans guide for the wider product family.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's or girls' wool knitted boleros | 6110 11 90 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's or girls' cashmere knitted boleros | 6110 12 90 90 | 12% | None |
| Women's or girls' cotton knitted boleros | 6110 20 99 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's or girls' man-made fibre knitted boleros | 6110 30 99 00 | 12% | None |
| Flax or ramie knitted boleros | 6110 90 10 00 | 12% | None |
Specify the cropped fit and front edge
Define whether the bolero has an open front, fastening or tie, and whether it is intended to sit over a dress or another top. Specify back length, shoulder width, armhole shape, sleeve length and opening, front-edge curve and rib tension. Approve fit with arms raised and reaching forward, as a short body can pull up or restrict movement.
Specify yarn composition, knit structure, opacity, softness, colour and care instructions. Require a fibre composition label, and confirm the applicable fibre names and percentage presentation with the relevant authority. Approve the label wording, then wash the sample using the proposed care instructions and compare its shape, dimensions and handle with the approved sample. Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500 women's cotton knitted bolero jackets under 6110 20 99 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure back length, shoulders, armholes and sleeves against the agreed size chart; check that the front edges sit evenly and movement does not pull the garment out of position.
Knit and colour: check dropped stitches, holes, snagging, uneven stitch density and shade differences across sleeves, body panels and cartons.
Wash stability: compare dimensions and front-edge curl before and after washing; examine pilling, stretched ribbing and colour transfer onto the clothing worn beneath.
Trims and labels: check fastening security, uncomfortable seam ends, approved fibre wording and size labels. Reconcile carton contents with the packing list and use the quality inspection guide to plan sampling.
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What goes wrong
A bolero can match the sample when laid flat but fail when worn. Tight armholes lift the back, uneven rib tension curls the front edge, and loose shoulder seams stretch under wear. Wash tests can expose distorted sleeves or a cropped body that becomes too short.
Keep an approved fit sample and written measurement tolerances for each size. Compare bulk garments with it before shipment and again on arrival, including colour against the intended outfit. Ask for approval before yarn, rib construction or fastenings are substituted.
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 bolero jackets from China?
The relevant bolero candidate lines in heading 6110 carry 12% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension recorded in the supplied tariff data.
Does a knitted bolero need a fibre label?
Yes. Specify the fibre composition, confirm the applicable fibre names and percentage presentation with the relevant authority, and check that the sewn label matches the approved composition.
Are all knitted bolero jackets classified under 6110?
Do not classify by the sales name alone. Check the actual construction and design; a garment made as an outer jacket may fall elsewhere.
What should I check on a bolero sample?
Check shoulder fit, arm movement, back length and front-edge curl over the intended outfit. Wash the sample and recheck shape, dimensions, pilling and colour transfer.