Sourcing men's woven duffle coats from China

Duty, fabric and finished garment weight

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 11 October 2026, the relevant duffle coat lines under heading 6201 all carried 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension shown. This heading covers men's or boys' overcoats and similar outerwear. Cotton and man-made fibre overcoat lines split at a finished garment weight of 1 kg. For wool styles, see our men's woven wool overcoat guide. For women's styles, see our women's woven duffle coat sourcing guide.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls and a seal-product import control. Cat and dog fur, including products containing it, cannot be imported or exported. Seal products for sale in Great Britain need the Inuit or other indigenous communities exemption and a seal catch certificate. For a China-sourced coat with seal material, confirm eligibility and documentation with your customs broker before ordering.

Use the finished sample, shell composition and garment weight to confirm the commodity code, especially for blended cloth. The table gives candidate overcoat lines rather than a classification for every design. See the men's woven pea coats guide for the wider heading. For anoraks, see our men's woven anorak sourcing guide. For ski outerwear, see our men's woven ski jacket sourcing guide. For trench coats, see our men's woven trench coat sourcing guide.

Specify the cloth, hood and toggle system

Define shell fibre composition, fabric weight, weave, brushed finish and colour against an approved swatch. Agree the lining, interlining, hood construction, sleeve lining and pocket bags. Record chest, shoulder, sleeve and back measurements, with tolerances and an approved fit sample worn over the intended layers.

Specify toggle material, loop material, attachment patches and reinforcement. A horn-shaped toggle may be resin, wood or actual horn, so record the material rather than its appearance. Fibre composition must be labelled; confirm durability and legibility requirements with the relevant authority. For leather tabs or other non-textile animal parts, confirm with the relevant authority whether the English statement “Contains non-textile parts of animal origin” is required.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 men's woven wool duffle coats, illustrative order under 6201 20 00 19, invoiced at £33,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £36,000. Duty at 12% is £4,320. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,320, so it is £8,064. Import taxes total £12,384; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £4,320 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Cloth: compare production fabric with the approved swatch; check fibre evidence, shade, surface shedding, pilling and colour transfer to the lining.

Fastenings: operate toggles through their loops and check attachment stitching, reinforcement, loop length and whether the front stays closed during movement.

Fit and construction: measure the agreed points, try the hood, check sleeve movement and look for twisted seams, uneven hems or lining that pulls the shell.

Labels and packing: match composition and animal-origin wording to the actual materials; check size labels, carton assortments, dampness and mildew on arrival. Record findings through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A sample can hide cloth substitution, uneven brushing or a lining that is too short for the finished shell. Toggle loops may stretch, attachment patches may tear away and stiff fastenings may be difficult to use. Include wear, fastening and care trials on production garments in the purchase specification.

A wool description does not establish the blend, and a horn-shaped toggle does not establish its material. Check production evidence against label artwork before accepting the shipment. Hold coats with unidentified fur trim for material identification and a customs-control review.

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. For sleeveless outerwear, see our men's woven padded gilet sourcing guide.