Sourcing Leather Desk Mats from China
Leather desk mats from China under 4205 00 90 00 carry a flat 2% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Confirm with HSE the UK REACH chromium VI requirements for skin-contact leather. Confirm the animal species, material description and attached import controls before shipping. Cambridge China Bridge sources leather desk mats.
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Leather desk mats: a flat 2% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 4205 covers other articles of leather or composition leather. Desk mats are candidates for 4205 00 90 00, carrying 2% duty on goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension. The table shows desk-mat variants sharing this code. Confirm the construction and use through our commodity code guide; see the wider leather goods guide for other products.
The tariff attaches veterinary, CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. APHA guidance exempts certain treated hides and skins from veterinary checks. For finished mats from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable declaration requirement using the species and tanning documents. CITES-listed material may require permits. Imports of cat and dog fur, including products containing it, are banned.
Seal products for trade must have a seal catch certificate; confirm eligibility with your broker before ordering any seal-derived material. The tariff also attaches a torture-and-repression import prohibition and related export restrictions, plus CITES and cat-and-dog-fur export controls. Ask your broker to confirm whether these measures apply to the actual goods. Do not assume every heading-level control requires the same paperwork for an ordinary desk mat.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain leather desk mats | 4205 00 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the leather, backing and flatness
Write down the animal species, leather layer, tanning method, surface coating and backing material. Distinguish hide leather from composition leather and synthetic substitutes. Agree dimensions, thickness, corner shape, edge paint or stitching, colour, logo position and packing method against an approved sample. Check writing feel, mouse tracking and whether the backing marks the intended desk surface.
Confirm with HSE the applicable UK REACH restrictions and limits for chromium VI, certain azo dyes and dimethylfumarate in the supplied articles. Request relevant reports for each leather and colour, including the wrist-contact surface. Bonded leather and polyurethane substitutes should not be described as genuine leather. Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 composition-leather desk mats, illustrative only under 4205 00 90 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,700. Duty at 2% is £214. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,914, so it is £2,182.80. Import taxes total £2,396.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £214 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Material: compare the cut edge, underside and supplier material documents with the approved sample; match chemical reports to the leather and colour supplied.
Flatness: unpack mats as the customer would and check lifting corners, ripples, uneven thickness and backing separation on a flat desk.
Finish: rub the surface and edges with dry and damp cloths; check colour transfer, coating cracks, loose stitches and logo position.
Packing: inspect for moisture, mould and strong solvent smells; check that packing prevents creases and pressure marks. Use our inspection guide to agree the checks before dispatch.
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What goes wrong
A sample can lie flat while bulk mats curl because the backing, adhesive or packing has changed. Rolled mats can retain a curl, and tightly stacked mats can arrive with pressure marks. Agree packing with the factory and inspect goods after unpacking, rather than judging them only while compressed in a carton.
Material substitution, dye transfer and peeling edge paint can turn a desk accessory into a returns problem. Keep the approved sample and material specification with the order. An attractive surface does not establish the leather type or chemical compliance; compare documents and test results with the actual batch.
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 leather desk mats from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 2% for 4205 00 90 00, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension recorded. Confirm that the mat's material and construction fit this code.
Can I sell a bonded-leather desk mat as genuine leather?
No. Describe composition or bonded leather accurately. Agree the material wording before the factory prints packaging or you publish the product listing.
What chemical tests should I ask for?
Request relevant chromium VI, restricted azo dye and dimethylfumarate reports for the actual leather and colours. Confirm with HSE the applicable chromium VI limit for skin-contact leather.
How do I stop leather desk mats arriving curled?
Approve the backing and packing with the sample. Ask the inspector to unpack mats and check lifting corners, ripples and backing separation before shipment.