Sourcing knitted crop-top T-shirts from China

Duty and classification for cropped T-shirts

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6109 covers knitted or crocheted T-shirts, singlets and other vests. All supplied lines carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension. The cotton other line is a classification alternative for cropped vests, not the default cotton T-shirt code. For UK-to-China trade, see our guide to exporting T-shirts to China.

The non-cotton lines attach CITES import and export controls. For material from a CITES-listed species, official guidance requires a permit for species in Annex A, B or C. Before ordering unusual animal-derived fibres or trims from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable CITES documents and whether the material can be imported.

Confirm the commodity code using the finished garment and fibre composition. Flag neckline openings, ribbed waistbands and adjustable hems to your broker rather than classifying from the name crop top alone. For cotton fabric buying checks, see the cotton T-shirts guide. For football teamwear, see our knitted football jersey sourcing guide. For netball teamwear, see our knitted netball jersey sourcing guide.

Specify cropped length and stretch recovery

Write a size chart with clear measurement points for shoulder-to-hem length, chest width, sleeve opening and neckline. State whether the fit is close or loose, and whether the hem is straight, curved or raw-edged. Approve the cropped position on a fit sample across the ordered sizes.

Specify fibre composition, knit construction, fabric weight, opacity when stretched, recovery after wear and acceptable wash shrinkage. Approve colours and print placement on the actual fabric. In Great Britain, fibre content must appear on the label, including fur and other animal parts; consumer products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. For compression styles, see our compression T-shirt sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 cotton knitted crop-top T-shirts under 6109 10 00 10, 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 cropped length and chest width against the approved chart; compare the hem position and sleeve fit with the sealed sample.

Fabric: check composition evidence against the label, shade across cartons, transparency under stretch and recovery after stretching.

Seams and hems: stretch shoulder, side and hem seams; look for broken stitches, puckering, uneven hems and neckline distortion.

Wash performance: compare length, width, side-seam twist and print condition before and after the agreed wash test. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A sample can fit well while bulk garments finish too short after washing. Uneven size grading can also move the cropped hem to an unintended position. Agree measurement points and wash acceptance criteria before production, then inspect the finished order against them.

Stretch fabric can become transparent or stay stretched at the neckline. Tight hem stitching can break during dressing, while prints can crack when the fabric stretches. Check these behaviours on the approved sample and repeat the checks on bulk garments.

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.