Sourcing men's woven union suits from China
Men's woven union suits from China carry a flat 12% UK duty across the listed heading 6207 lines, with no recorded trade remedies. Fibre labels are required; confirm any fire-labelling requirements for adult nightwear with the relevant trading standards authority. Confirm the garment's construction and intended use before choosing its code. Cambridge China Bridge sources men's woven union suits.
A flat 12% across the listed lines
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6207 covers men's or boys' underwear, nightwear, robes and similar articles. Every supplied line carries 12% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension. This guide focuses on men's woven union suits.
Official classification guidance places men's nightwear covering the upper and lower body and each leg separately within the other-article subheadings. The table gives relevant material and finish options, including a specialist batik line. Confirm the commodity code using the sample, fibre composition, construction and intended use. See the woven thermal underpants guide for the wider heading.
The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to 6207 99 90 91 and 6207 99 90 99. Moving CITES specimens into or out of Great Britain requires a permit; corresponding documentation is also needed from the other country's authority. For material from China that may involve listed species, have your customs broker confirm the species-specific documents before shipment.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other cotton articles: plain woven union suits, subject to classification | 6207 91 00 99 | 12% | None |
| Other man-made-fibre articles: woven union suits, subject to classification | 6207 99 10 00 | 12% | None |
| Other textile articles: woven union suits, excluding hand-printed batik | 6207 99 90 99 | 12% | None |
| Other cotton articles, hand-printed batik: specialist union-suit designs | 6207 91 00 91 | 12% | None |
Specify torso length, movement and openings
Define a woven union suit as a garment joining the upper body and separate legs. Specify fabric construction, fibre blend, fabric weight, brushed finish, colour and wash method. Agree shoulder-to-crotch length, chest, seat, sleeve and inside-leg measurements, with tolerances. Check sitting, bending and reaching in a sample because woven fabric offers less give than a knitted base layer.
Specify the front opening, fly, any rear access flap, button spacing, reinforcement and seam finish against the skin. Approve the washed sample before bulk cutting. Label the fibre content and confirm permitted fibre names with the relevant trading standards authority. If supplied as adult nightwear, ask that authority to confirm any fire-labelling requirements and wording appropriate to its flammability performance. Include usable care instructions.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 men's cotton woven union suits under 6207 91 00 99, 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
Fit: measure torso length, seat and leg dimensions before and after the agreed wash; check that sitting does not pull the crotch or open the placket.
Closures: operate the front fastening, fly and rear flap where fitted; check button attachment, buttonhole finish and coverage when bending.
Fabric and seams: compare weave, weight and brushing with the approved sample; check seam slippage, puckering, rough seam allowances and colour transfer.
Labels and packing: check fibre composition, size and care instructions; confirm any nightwear fire-labelling requirements with the relevant trading standards authority and check the agreed label. Match carton contents to the ordered size breakdown.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A sample can fit standing up yet pull sharply across the back when seated. Torso shrinkage makes this worse, while a narrow placket can gape under tension. Reject fit approval based only on chest width and inside-leg length. Record the washed fit and movement checks in the purchase specification.
Other failures include buttons pulling through loosely woven cloth, rear flaps opening during movement and brushed fabric shedding after washing. A correct-looking garment can also arrive with the wrong fibre or fire label. Use an agreed inspection brief covering the actual bulk fabric and every ordered size.
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 men's woven union suits from China?
The supplied heading 6207 lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension. Confirm the exact commodity code.
Do men's woven union suits need a fire label?
If supplied as adult nightwear, confirm any fire-labelling requirements with the relevant trading standards authority, including the wording appropriate to the garment's flammability performance.
Which measurements matter most for woven union suits?
Check shoulder-to-crotch length, chest, seat and inside-leg length before and after washing. Test sitting, bending and reaching with the garment fastened.
Can I use a knitted union suit as the factory sample?
Use it to explain styling, then approve a sample in the intended woven fabric. Recheck body ease, torso length, seam strength and opening coverage because the fabrics behave differently.