Sourcing lace closures and frontals from China
Lace closures and frontal hairpieces from China carry 2% UK duty across the supplied material lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Products sold to consumers must be safe. Specify the hair material, lace base and knot treatment. Cambridge China Bridge sources lace closures and frontal hairpieces.
UK duty on lace closures and frontals
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6704 covers wigs and similar articles of human or animal hair or textile materials. Finished human-hair closures and frontals use the human-hair line; synthetic versions use the other synthetic-textile articles line. The supplied lines all carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.
The other-material line carries CITES import and export controls and cat-and-dog-fur import and export controls. For animal-hair products from China, identify the species: CITES permits are required for species listed in Annex A, B or C. Ask your customs broker to confirm the shipment documents. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur and products made from it are banned. The supplied human-hair and synthetic lines have no attached controls.
Confirm the commodity code against the actual hair material and finished construction. The table repeats material codes for closures and frontals; these are product variants rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the hair toppers guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human-hair lace closures | 6704 20 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Synthetic-hair lace closures | 6704 19 00 00 | 2% | None |
Lace area, hairline and knot treatment
Specify a closure for the agreed parting area or a frontal spanning the intended front hairline. Record lace width, depth, contour, mesh fineness, colour and edge allowance. Approve the hairline shape, parting positions, density distribution and knot visibility on a physical sample viewed against the intended skin tone.
Specify human or synthetic hair, length measured straight, weight, colour, texture and processing. Define supplier terms such as virgin and remy rather than accepting a grade label. Agree whether knots are bleached and the hairline is pre-plucked. For synthetic hair, agree the intended styling conditions and test any heat-resistance claim.
Consumer products must be safe. Review skin-contact surfaces, exposed knots, rough edges and any clips. Agree care and fitting instructions that match the supplied construction. Use retained samples to set acceptance criteria for washing, combing, shedding and colour transfer.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 300 human-hair lace closures under 6704 20 00 00, invoiced at £12,240 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,440. Duty at 2% is £268.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,708.80, so it is £2,741.76. Import taxes total £3,010.56; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £268.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Lace and fit: lay sampled pieces flat, measure the agreed base dimensions, compare the contour and lace colour, and inspect for holes, tears and uneven edges.
Hairline and knots: compare density and parting with the approved sample; check conspicuous knots, patchy bleaching, excessive plucking and hair pulling free from the base.
Hair performance: weigh and measure samples, then wash and comb them to check tangling, shedding, colour transfer and texture retention. Check synthetic styling performance under the agreed conditions.
Packing and identity: match each piece to its ordered colour, length and construction; check dry packing and readable care information. Inspect production stock against retained samples during quality inspection.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Fine lace can tear at the edge or around poorly secured knots. Excessive knot bleaching weakens the hair, while heavy plucking leaves thin patches. A frontal may match the sample colour but have a different contour or lace depth, making fitting difficult. Check the finished base after washing as well as before it.
Surface coatings can hide damaged hair until washing exposes tangling and shedding. Mixed fibres, short hairs concealed beneath longer strands and inconsistent dye batches also cause complaints. Record the approved material and processing in the order, and compare samples drawn from different cartons.
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 lace closures from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 2% duty for human-hair and synthetic lace closures and frontals, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
Do lace closures and frontals use different commodity codes?
The supplied lines distinguish materials. Human-hair pieces use 6704 20 00 00; synthetic pieces use 6704 19 00 00. Confirm the finished construction before declaring the code.
How do I check bleached knots on a lace frontal?
Compare knot visibility and colour with the retained sample. Look for patchy bleaching and weak hair, then wash and comb a sample to check shedding and hair pulling free.
What should I specify for the lace base?
Agree width, depth, contour, mesh fineness, colour, edge allowance and parting positions. Check a physical sample against the intended skin tone and fitting method.