Sourcing men's knitted bomber jackets from China

UK duty on men's knitted bomber jackets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6101 covers men's or boys' knitted or crocheted outerwear, including wind-jackets and similar articles. The selected bomber-jacket lines carry 12% duty for goods from China. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Confirm classification from the shell construction and fibre composition, rather than the bomber style name alone.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal product controls, plus CITES controls on the other textile material lines. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported or exported. For seal products intended for sale in Great Britain, confirm exemption eligibility with the relevant authority or your customs broker and obtain the required seal catch certificate. For CITES-listed animal materials from China, confirm the species and applicable permit requirements with your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code using the shell fabric, fibre composition, garment construction and intended wearer. For the related women's range, see women's knitted bomber jackets. Check import duty and VAT when preparing the landed-cost calculation.

Specify the knitted shell, ribs and zip

Specify shell fibre composition, knit structure, fabric weight, surface finish and stretch direction. Record lining and filling separately. Approve the collar, cuff and waistband rib against the shell for shade, thickness and recovery. Define chest, shoulder, sleeve and body measurements, pocket positions and agreed tolerances. Keep a sealed sample showing the intended fit with the zip closed.

Specify zip type, tape colour, puller, end stops and attachment method. Agree seam reinforcement around pockets and underarms, and acceptance criteria for pilling, colour transfer and wash shrinkage. For sale in Great Britain, the label must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Importers placing products on the UK market must demonstrate compliance with relevant safety requirements; include checks for sharp zip or trim edges in the inspection brief.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 men's cotton knitted bomber jackets; FOB value and freight are illustrative, not a quotation. under 6101 20 90 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shell and shade: compare production garments with the sealed sample; check knit structure, fabric weight, pilling, snagging and shade differences between shell and ribs.

Fit and recovery: measure chest, shoulders, sleeves and body length; stretch cuffs and waistband, then check recovery and symmetry.

Zip and assembly: operate the zip repeatedly; check waviness when closed, caught lining, secure stops, pocket attachment, underarm seams and sharp trim edges.

Wash and labels: wash samples using the agreed care method; check twisting, shrinkage and colour transfer, then compare labels with composition evidence and approved wording. Use the inspection guide to plan checks before shipment and on arrival.

What goes wrong

Zip tape and knitted shell can shrink differently, leaving a wavy front after washing. Weak ribs can remain stretched, while a tight waistband can pull the body out of shape. Bulk fabric substitutions can change handle, pilling and fit even when the colour looks correct.

Approve a washed sample with the zip closed, retain shell and rib swatches, and record acceptable dimensional change in the order. On arrival, compare garments from different cartons for shade and measurements. Resolve fabric substitutions, uneven fronts and incorrect labels before accepting the 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.