Sourcing knitted sweater vests from China
Knitted sweater vests from China normally pay 12% UK duty; heading 6110 ranges from 10% to 12%, with the lower rate confined to a specific heavy wool pullover line. Fibre composition must be labelled. Specify yarn, armhole shape and wash stability before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted sweater vests.
Duty on knitted sweater vests
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 6110 covers knitted or crocheted jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles. The sweater-vest lines selected here carry 12% duty for goods from China. The heading's 10% exception is 6110 11 10 00, for jerseys and pullovers containing at least 50% wool and weighing 600 g or more per article; do not assume a wool vest qualifies.
The supplied tariff records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. They attach cat and dog fur and seal-product controls: cat and dog fur products cannot be imported or exported; seal products face a ban with limited exceptions, so confirm any proposed seal material with your customs broker. Some other animal-hair and textile lines also attach CITES controls; confirm the species and applicable documents with your broker before ordering.
Use the actual garment construction and fibre composition to confirm the commodity code. The table gives candidate lines, rather than a classification for every blend or sleeveless design. See knitted jumpers for the wider heading and import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool sweater vests, men's or boys' | 6110 11 30 00 | 12% | None |
| Wool sweater vests, women's or girls' | 6110 11 90 00 | 12% | None |
| Cashmere sweater vests, men's or boys', other | 6110 12 10 90 | 12% | None |
| Cashmere sweater vests, women's or girls', other | 6110 12 90 90 | 12% | None |
| Cotton sweater vests, men's or boys' | 6110 20 91 00 | 12% | None |
| Cotton sweater vests, women's or girls' | 6110 20 99 00 | 12% | None |
| Man-made fibre sweater vests, men's or boys' | 6110 30 91 00 | 12% | None |
| Man-made fibre sweater vests, women's or girls' | 6110 30 99 00 | 12% | None |
Specify yarn, armholes and rib recovery
Specify the yarn composition, knit structure, garment weight, colour, neckline depth, shoulder width and armhole opening. Give a graded measurement chart with agreed tolerances, including body length and chest width. Approve the vest over the shirt it is intended to accompany, because an armhole that looks acceptable flat can gape or pull when worn.
Set acceptance criteria for pilling, shrinkage, colour transfer and rib recovery after washing. Approve the neck, armhole and hem rib construction and the shoulder joining method. Fibre content must be labelled, including fur and other animal parts where present. Write the composition label and intended care wording into the order, and retain an approved sample for comparison.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 men's cotton knitted sweater vests under 6110 20 91 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 chest, length, shoulder width, neckline and armholes against the approved size chart; compare fit across sizes.
Knitting: check dropped stitches, holes, loose yarn ends, shoulder joins and uneven rib tension; stretch the openings and check recovery.
Washing: compare dimensions, pilling, twisting and colour transfer before and after the agreed wash test, including contrasting patterned yarns.
Arrival and labels: check cartons for damp, compare shades across cartons and match composition labels to the approved wording. Use the inspection guide to agree how checks are recorded.
What goes wrong
Armhole ribs can flare, neck ribs can pull the front upwards, and shoulder joins can open when stretched. A replacement yarn may match the colour yet change the handle, pilling or shrinkage. Cable and patterned knits can also distort the finished measurements.
Approve samples after washing, rather than relying on a pressed showroom sample. Record yarn substitutions for approval, compare production garments with the retained sample and isolate damp or visibly defective stock on arrival.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on knitted sweater vests from China?
The selected wool, cashmere, cotton and man-made fibre lines carry 12%. Heading 6110 ranges from 10% to 12%; its lower rate is confined to a specific heavy wool jersey and pullover line.
What label does a knitted sweater vest need?
A fibre composition label is required. Approve its wording against the actual yarn composition and include fur or other animal parts where present.
How do I stop sweater-vest armholes stretching?
Specify rib construction and recovery criteria, approve a worn sample and check the opening again after washing and stretching.
What should I test before buying bulk sweater vests?
Check fit, shrinkage, pilling, colour transfer and rib recovery on the proposed yarn and knit. Compare the washed sample with the measurements agreed in the order.