Sourcing men's knitted ski trousers from China

Duty on separate knitted ski trousers

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6103 covers men's or boys' knitted or crocheted suits, ensembles, jackets, trousers and related garments. This guide concerns separate men's knitted ski trousers. The listed trouser lines carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension recorded.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product import controls, with CITES import controls on the wool and other-textile trouser lines. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether any seal products may be imported and sold, and under what conditions. For China orders containing animal materials, confirm the species, relevant CITES permits and seal documentation with your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code from the actual fabric construction, fibre composition and how the garments are presented. Do not classify from the supplier's description of a fabric as stretch material. The wider knitted suits and trousers guide covers the rest of this heading.

Specify boot fit, knee recovery and weather performance

Specify the knitted structure, fibre blend, fabric weight, lining and any membrane or coating. Agree stretch recovery, pilling, shrinkage and colour-transfer limits. Define waist, rise, thigh, knee and inside-leg measurements, plus hem openings and any internal gaiters. Approve fit over the intended base layers and ski boots, including bending and sitting.

Where the design includes them, define ankle reinforcement, gaiter elastic, ventilation openings, pocket closures and seam sealing. Agree test methods and acceptance limits for any water-resistance or breathability claims. Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use; assess the finished garment rather than relying only on fabric results.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 pairs of men's knitted ski trousers under 6103 43 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £22,800. Duty at 12% is £2,736. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,536, so it is £5,107.20. Import taxes total £7,843.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,736 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure against the approved size chart before and after the agreed care process; check knee movement, waist adjustment and clearance over ski boots.

Fabric: compare bulk material with the retained sample; check recovery, pilling, shrinkage, colour transfer and any agreed water-resistance performance.

Construction: stretch crotch and knee seams; operate zips and adjusters; inspect ankle reinforcement, gaiter attachment and any seam tape after flexing and care.

Labels and packing: match fibre declarations to fabric results and approved artwork; check size labels, care instructions, colour assortment and carton contents. Record arrival defects using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A soft brushed sample can conceal poor knee recovery or a different bulk fabric. Trouser legs may shorten after care, gaiters may ride above boots, and narrow hems may restrict boot access. Crotch seams can open under stretch, while ankle panels can abrade or separate from the knit.

A water-repellent finish alone does not demonstrate the agreed finished-garment performance. Check any membrane, coating and taped seams after the proposed care process. Keep an approved garment for comparison and record measurements, material differences and construction defects before accepting the delivery.

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.