Leather keyrings and small goods from China

A flat 2%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, other articles of leather or composition leather in heading 4205, including conveyor or transmission belting, other articles for technical uses and other articles such as keyrings, coasters, laces and straps, carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.

Handbags, wallets and cases are in heading 4202, leather clothing, gloves and belts in 4203, covered in our leather gloves, belts and jackets guide, saddlery and pet leads in 4201, and watch straps in 9113. Confirm the commodity code from what the article is for.

Chemicals and the word leather

UK REACH Annex XVII entry 47 limits chromium VI to less than 3 mg/kg in leather articles that come into contact with the skin, entry 43 restricts azo dyes that release listed amines, and entry 61 bans the anti-mould agent dimethylfumarate in articles, so keyrings, straps and other handled goods need a test report per leather and colour.

BS EN 16223 sets how leather may be designated and described, and bonded leather made from leather fibres and binders, or PU-coated split, should not be sold as genuine leather. Branded or personalised goods for promotions are usually embossed or printed, so approve the artwork and a sample before bulk; see our promotional merchandise guide.

Worked duty example

Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 20,000 embossed leather keyrings and coasters under 4205 00 90 00. At £10,000 free on board and £700 to ship and insure, the customs value is £10,700. Leather small goods at 2% pay £214 of duty; VAT is then worked out on value plus duty, £10,914, giving £2,182.80. Of the £2,396.80 paid at import, only the £214 of duty stays a cost for a VAT-registered business. A leather dog lead or collar would be classified as saddlery in heading 4201 instead. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.

What goes wrong

Small leather goods fail on material, finish and smell. Bonded leather or PU is supplied against a leather order; the surface finish cracks or rubs off onto hands; dyed edges crack and peel; embossing is shallow or off-centre; metal rings and rivets rust; goods smell strongly of solvent or go mouldy in a humid container.

Test chromium VI to ISO 17075, azo dyes to ISO 17234-1 and colour fastness to rubbing to ISO 11640 on each leather and colour, check tear load to ISO 3377-1 on straps and laces, confirm the material by looking at a cut edge and the back of the hide, check emboss depth and position against the approved sample, and pack with desiccant and ventilated cartons.

Cambridge China Bridge sources leather keyrings, coasters, straps, laces and desk accessories, including branded runs for companies and shops, starting with a sample and a small first order. See how we handle first orders.