Sourcing men's woven Oxford shirts from China

A flat 12% duty on Oxford shirts

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6205 covers men's or boys' shirts. This guide concerns men's woven Oxford shirts. All supplied commodity lines carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no duty suspensions recorded.

Cotton is the main buying case; the table also covers alternative Oxford fabrics where their composition supports that classification. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to 6205 90 80 10 and 6205 90 80 90. Imports containing CITES specimens require a permit. For such materials from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements before ordering.

Oxford describes the weave rather than the fibre composition. Confirm the commodity code against the actual fabric and garment construction. See the men's woven dress shirts guide for the wider product family.

Specify the Oxford weave and collar

Specify the basket-weave structure, fibre blend, fabric weight, yarn appearance and approved colour. Compare the fabric face with the approved swatch so a smoother shirting fabric is not substituted. Agree collar shape, button-down points where used, interlining, cuff construction, pocket position and whether the hem is intended for tucked or untucked wear.

Approve a fit sample and size set covering collar, chest, shoulder, sleeve and body measurements, with tolerances and wash expectations. Fibre labels must disclose the blend accurately; confirm the applicable fibre names with Trading Standards. Agree care instructions and size labels as part of the specification. Products should only be sold after compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,000 men's cotton woven Oxford shirts; illustrative order, FOB value and freight under 6205 20 00 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 12% is £816. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,616, so it is £1,523.20. Import taxes total £2,339.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £816 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fabric: compare the weave, handle and shade with the approved swatch; check for weaving faults, shade changes between panels and colour transfer after washing.

Collar and make-up: check collar symmetry, button-down alignment where specified, interlining bubbles, seam puckering, loose threads and button attachment.

Fit and washing: measure samples from each size against the agreed chart before and after the care-label wash; check sleeve shortening, body shrinkage and twisting.

Labels and packing: compare fibre declarations with the approved composition, check size and care artwork, reconcile carton contents and inspect for dampness. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.

What goes wrong

The fabric sample can look right while bulk shirts differ in weave, shade or handle. An Oxford weave does not establish cotton content. Keep an approved fabric swatch and finished shirt, and compare bulk production with both.

Button-down points placed unevenly distort the collar roll. Unsuitable interlining bubbles after washing, seams pucker and sleeves become short through shrinkage. Approve washed samples before bulk cutting and inspect finished shirts against the agreed measurements.

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.