Sourcing knitted cycling mitts from China
Knitted cycling mitts from China carry 8% standard UK duty, with qualifying coated lines eligible for 0% under a suspension. Fibre-content labelling is required for textile products sold in Great Britain. Confirm the palm construction and any protective claims before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted cycling mitts.
Duty by fibre and coating
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6116 covers knitted or crocheted gloves, mittens and mitts. The supplied lines carry 8% standard duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Uncoated cotton and synthetic-fibre cycling mitts retain that rate. Coated lines have a conditional 0% suspension for knitted or crocheted gloves impregnated or covered with plastics or rubber; confirm eligibility for the actual mitt.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product import controls. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported; seal products can be imported and sold only in limited cases meeting strict conditions. Specify no such materials and ask your customs broker to confirm any animal-material requirement. The wool and other-textile lines also carry CITES controls: if considering those materials, have your broker confirm the species-specific requirements for goods from China.
Send the fibre breakdown, palm and back materials, coating coverage and laminate details with a finished sample to confirm the commodity code. A knitted back alone should not be your basis for choosing the code. For the wider heading, see knitted ski gloves.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic-fibre knitted cycling mitts, uncoated | 6116 93 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Cotton knitted cycling mitts, uncoated | 6116 92 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Rubber-coated knitted cycling mitts, not laminated | 6116 10 20 91 | 8% | None |
| Plastic-coated knitted cycling mitts, not laminated | 6116 10 80 91 | 8% | None |
Specify the palm, padding and finger openings
Specify the knitted back's fibre composition and stretch, the palm material, coating type and coverage, and the padding material, thickness and position. Agree palm width, wrist opening, thumb opening and finger-opening dimensions against a size chart. Include seam placement, pull-off tabs, wrist fastening, colour and logo position.
Approve a sample while holding a handlebar: check whether the padding bunches, seams press into the hand or the wrist fastening catches the knit. Textile labels must show fibre content. Settle label wording and any protective claims before production; use testing and certification to review the evidence for the proposed claims.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 pairs of uncoated synthetic-fibre knitted cycling mitts, illustrative only under 6116 93 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 8% is £1,560. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,060, so it is £4,212. Import taxes total £5,772; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,560 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure each sampled size against the agreed chart and compare left and right mitts for palm width, finger openings and wrist fit.
Palm and padding: compare pad position and thickness with the approved sample, flex the palm and check for pad movement, coating peeling and exposed adhesive.
Seams and fastenings: pull gently at thumb seams and finger bindings, check pull-off tabs are secure and open and close the wrist fastening.
Colour and labels: check colour transfer with a damp cloth, compare labels with the agreed fibre composition and confirm pairs, sizes and carton contents. Use a written inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A mitt can look correct laid flat yet pinch when gripping a handlebar. Padding placed across a bending point bunches up, thumb seams rub and finger bindings restrict movement. Compare the production sample with the approved sample in use, and wash it using the proposed care instructions to check fit, colour transfer and pad movement.
Material substitutions also change the order: a different palm fabric, coating or laminate may need the commodity code checked again. Keep the approved material list with the order. Mitts sold to consumers in Great Britain must meet the applicable general product safety requirements; treat inspection findings about loose parts, sharp fastening edges or grip failure as issues to resolve before sale.
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 cycling mitts from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 8% standard duty. Qualifying coated lines have a conditional 0% suspension; uncoated cotton and synthetic-fibre mitts pay 8%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Do knitted cycling mitts need a fibre label?
Yes, textile labelling rules in Great Britain require the label to show fibre content. Agree the wording against the actual materials before production.
Does a knitted back put cycling mitts under 6116?
Do not choose the code from the back alone. Give your customs broker the finished sample, palm and back materials, fibre breakdown and coating details.
What should I check on a cycling-mitt sample?
Check fit while gripping a handlebar, padding position, thumb seams, finger openings, pull-off tabs and wrist fastening. Repeat the comparison after washing using the proposed care instructions.