Sourcing lunge whips from China
Lunge whips from China carry 2% UK import duty across both tariff lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. For consumer sales in Great Britain, the importer must ensure the product is safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check shaft joints, lash attachment and materials. Cambridge China Bridge sources lunge whips.
UK duty and material controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6602 covers walking sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and the like. Lunge whips fall within the whip family. Both the hand-made and other lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or tariff suspension is listed. The table shows the available tariff lines; fixed and telescopic designs do not have separate lines in the supplied data.
The tariff attaches CITES, seal-product and torture-goods import controls. CITES-listed materials need the applicable import documentation, with corresponding export documentation arranged in China. Commercial seal products are restricted to qualifying indigenous hunts and need recognised catch attestation. Whips with multiple lashes, or lashes fitted with barbs, hooks, spikes, metal wire or similar impact-enhancing objects, are covered by the import ban on torture goods. Exclude these designs from an ordinary lunge-whip order.
The tariff also flags CITES export control and torture-goods export restrictions. Confirm their application with your customs broker before any onward export. Give the broker the construction, materials and manufacturing process to confirm the commodity code. For the wider product family, see riding crops.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made lunge whips | 6602 00 00 10 | 2% | None |
| Other lunge whips | 6602 00 00 90 | 2% | None |
Specify the shaft, lash and grip
Specify shaft material, working length, lash length, flex, balance and grip texture. State whether the shaft is fixed, sectional or telescopic, how joints lock, and whether the lash is replaceable. Agree the lash attachment, tip finish, handle fixing and packing method against an approved sample. Ask the factory to identify every animal-derived or wooden component by species.
For consumer sales in Great Britain, the importer must ensure safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess shaft breakage, exposed fibres, joint separation and lash detachment before approving production. Agree checks that reflect the intended use, and arrange testing and certification support where needed.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of lunge whips for an equestrian retailer under 6602 00 00 90, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,900. Duty at 2% is £58. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,958, so it is £591.60. Import taxes total £649.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £58 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Shaft and joints: compare length, flex and balance with the approved sample; extend and retract telescopic shafts, check locks, and look for cracks, exposed fibres or loose sections.
Lash and tip: check length, braid consistency, attachment security and replaceability; flex and pull the attachment using the agreed inspection method, and look for fraying or loose knots.
Grip and finish: check handle fixing, grip adhesion, seams and sharp edges; rub the grip and lash with a damp cloth to check colour transfer.
Packing and identity: check shafts arrive straight, lashes are protected from tangling, and carton contents match the order. Match material declarations and inspection records to the delivered batch. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
A sample can feel balanced while production shafts are heavier or stiffer. Telescopic locks slip, sectional joints loosen, lash attachments pull out, and grips rotate on the shaft. Tight packing can bend shafts or leave permanent kinks in lashes. Compare production samples with the approved sample before dispatch and repeat checks on arrival.
A material substitution can also change the import-control checks. If the factory substitutes an unidentified skin or wood, hold shipment until the species and applicable documentation are confirmed. Keep the approved materials and lash design in the purchase specification.
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 lunge whips from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, both 6602 00 00 10 and 6602 00 00 90 carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed.
Do telescopic lunge whips have a different duty rate?
The supplied tariff data separates hand-made whips from other whips, not fixed from telescopic designs. Both lines carry 2%. Confirm the manufacturing process and classification with your broker.
Can I import lunge whips with leather parts?
Identify the species before ordering. CITES-listed materials need applicable import and export documentation. Seal products have separate restrictions and attestation requirements; do not accept unspecified skin.
What should I check on a lunge-whip sample?
Check balance, shaft flex, joint locking, lash attachment and grip fixing. Compare these with production samples, then check arrival packing for bent shafts, kinked lashes and exposed fibres.