Sourcing knitted touchscreen gloves from China
Uncoated knitted touchscreen gloves from China carry 8% UK duty; qualifying plastic or rubber-covered lines can enter at 0% under suspension. Fibre composition must be labelled. Specify conductive fingertip coverage and check screen response while worn, including after washing. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted touchscreen gloves.
UK duty on knitted touchscreen gloves
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, heading 6116 covers knitted or crocheted gloves, mittens and mitts. The uncoated touchscreen glove lines shown carry 8% duty from China. The supplied data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Plastic or rubber-impregnated or covered lines carry 8% with a qualifying suspension to 0%; conductive yarn alone does not establish eligibility for that suspension.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal product import controls, with CITES controls on the wool or fine animal hair and other textile material lines. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported. Seal products can only be imported and placed on the market for sale in limited cases where strict conditions are met; ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable exemption and supporting documentation. For CITES-listed animal materials from China, confirm the species and applicable permits with your broker before ordering.
Confirm the commodity code from the actual fibre composition and any plastic or rubber treatment, rather than the touchscreen sales description. The work gloves and knitted gloves guide covers the wider heading and coated lines.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated synthetic-fibre knitted touchscreen gloves | 6116 93 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Uncoated cotton knitted touchscreen gloves | 6116 92 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Uncoated wool or fine animal hair knitted touchscreen gloves | 6116 91 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Uncoated knitted touchscreen gloves of other textile materials | 6116 99 00 00 | 8% | None |
Specify conductive fingertips and glove fit
Specify the base yarn blend, conductive yarn or fingertip treatment, active fingers, coverage on each fingertip, knit structure, lining and cuff construction. Agree a size chart covering hand length, palm width and finger length. Approve samples while worn: a loose fingertip can prevent reliable contact even when the conductive material works.
Agree the phones or tablets, screen protectors and gestures used for acceptance checks, including tapping, swiping and typing. Repeat those checks after washing by the agreed care method. Record acceptable shrinkage, pilling, colour transfer and cuff recovery in the order.
For sale in Great Britain, the label must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Product safety compliance must be demonstrated before sale. Approve fibre wording against composition evidence, and assess loose trims, rough internal joins and any skin-contact treatments.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 pairs of synthetic-fibre knitted touchscreen gloves; FOB value and freight are illustrative. under 6116 93 00 00, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,200. Duty at 8% is £176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,376, so it is £475.20. Import taxes total £651.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Screen response: wear samples from each size and colour; test every specified active finger on the agreed devices, before and after washing.
Fit and knitting: measure against the size chart; check finger alignment, thumb joins, dropped stitches, holes and bulky fingertip seams.
Wash and finish: check shrinkage, twisting, pilling, colour transfer and loss of conductive response after the agreed wash procedure.
Labels and packing: compare fibre wording, size markings and pair counts with the order; check for dampness, snagging and mismatched gloves. Use the inspection guide to plan sampling.
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What goes wrong
A sample may operate a screen when pressed flat but fail while worn because the fingertip is loose or the conductive patch misses the contact area. Bulk production can also substitute conductive yarn or change its placement. Keep an approved pair and the device test method, then compare production and arrival samples.
Washing can change fit or screen response, while stretched cuffs and rough fingertip joins make otherwise functional gloves difficult to wear. Resolve these defects against agreed acceptance criteria before accepting the batch. Avoid adding protective performance claims without reviewing the corresponding requirements described in the wider glove guide.
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 touchscreen gloves from China?
Uncoated knitted touchscreen gloves carry 8%. Qualifying plastic or rubber-impregnated or covered lines have a suspension to 0%. The supplied data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do knitted touchscreen gloves need a fibre label?
Yes. Check the approved wording against the yarn composition.
How do I check touchscreen performance before shipment?
Wear the gloves and test every specified active finger on agreed devices and screen protectors. Check tapping, swiping and typing, then repeat after washing by the agreed care method.
Does conductive yarn qualify gloves for the duty suspension?
Conductive yarn alone does not establish eligibility. The suspension describes knitted or crocheted gloves impregnated or covered with plastics or rubber under the relevant coated codes.