Sourcing knitted powerlifting suits from China

UK duty on knitted powerlifting suits

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6114 covers other knitted or crocheted garments. For knitted powerlifting suits classified here, the supplied cotton, man-made fibre, wool or fine animal hair and other textile material lines all carry 12% duty from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspensions are recorded. The wool and other-material rows are alternatives only where the actual composition supports them.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls and seal product import controls to all supplied lines; the other textile material lines also carry CITES import and export controls. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import and export. Seal products for commercial import into Great Britain must qualify under the indigenous communities exemption and carry a seal catch certificate. For CITES-listed materials from China, confirm applicable movement permits with your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code using the actual fibre composition, knitted construction and garment design. A supplier calling a garment a powerlifting suit does not settle its classification. The wider garment family is covered in our knitted weightlifting singlets guide.

Specify support fabric and lifting fit

State whether the suit is a flexible competition garment or a supportive suit intended to resist movement. Specify fibre composition, knit structure, fabric weight, stretch direction, resistance and recovery, panel orientation, shoulder straps, leg openings and seam reinforcement. Use an approved physical sample to define the intended feel. Agree torso, hip and thigh measurements across the size range, then assess fit through squat and deadlift movements.

For sale in Great Britain, the fibre composition must be labelled. Consumer suits must also be safe under normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess seam failure, restrictive fit and rough edges when planning product checks. Agree care instructions and wash performance before production, and compare the label wording with bulk fabric evidence.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 man-made fibre knitted powerlifting suits; FOB value and freight are illustrative, not a quotation. under 6114 30 00 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

Fabric and support: compare bulk composition evidence, fabric weight and panel orientation with the approved sample; check resistance and recovery after repeated stretching.

Fit and movement: measure torso length, hips, thighs, straps and leg openings against the agreed chart; assess squat depth and deadlift positioning on fit samples.

Seams and edges: inspect crotch, side seams and strap attachments under controlled tension; look for broken stitches, seam opening, abrasive thread ends and twisting.

Wash, labels and packing: check dimensional change, colour transfer and recovery after the agreed care method; verify fibre wording, size labels and carton contents. Plan these checks with the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A suit can match the chest measurement yet have a torso that pulls the straps excessively or a crotch that prevents the intended movement. Bulk fabric can feel softer than the approval sample and provide different resistance. Incorrect panel orientation changes how the suit stretches, while inflexible stitching can break at the crotch or strap junction.

Keep a sealed approval sample and record both relaxed measurements and the agreed stretch assessment. Check production samples before shipment and repeat the checks on arrival. Treat changes to yarn, finishing, panel layout or stitching as changes requiring buyer approval.

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.