Sourcing metal bra strap sliders from China

Duty and classification for metal bra strap sliders

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8308 covers base-metal clothing fasteners and similar articles, alongside other metal trims. For bra strap sliders, consider 8308 90 00 90, the other line within other articles including parts. See the wider metal trims guide for hooks, eyelets and rivets.

All supplied lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The table repeats the relevant code for slider variants; these are not separate tariff lines.

Confirm the commodity code against the slider actually supplied. Give your customs broker a drawing, photographs, the base metal and an explanation of how the strap threads through the adjuster.

Specify the slider with the actual shoulder strap

Specify the base metal, manufacturing method, internal slot dimensions, centre-bar profile, material thickness and dimensional tolerances. State the strap width and thickness, including its thickness when folded through the slider. Approve a sample threaded with your production elastic, checking adjustment and grip rather than judging the loose component.

Agree the finish, colour reference and plating or coating specification separately from the base metal. Confirm the applicable REACH nickel-release limits for articles in direct and prolonged skin contact with HSE. For skin-contact sliders, request a report matching the actual metal and finish. See UK REACH for importers.

UK businesses must not sell consumer products they know or should have known are unsafe. For sliders sold as replacement components, assess sharp edges, breakage and foreseeable use. Agree wear, washing and strap-load checks before ordering, with testing and certification support where needed.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order only: 2,000 plated metal bra strap sliders; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 8308 90 00 90, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,100. Duty at 2% is £42. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,142, so it is £428.40. Import taxes total £470.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £42 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure slot openings and bar geometry against the approved drawing; thread samples from different packs with the intended strap and check that it lies flat.

Grip: adjust the threaded strap repeatedly, then load it using the agreed method; check slipping, bar bending, cracks and damage to the elastic.

Edges and finish: check for burrs, rough seams, flaking, exposed base metal and colour variation; compare with the retained sample and review the matching nickel release report.

Packing: check counts, sizes, finishes and batch identification; keep different variants separate and protect surfaces from rubbing. Use the same checks in your quality inspection before shipment and on arrival.

What goes wrong

A slider can match the advertised strap width yet have insufficient clearance for the folded elastic. An unsuitable centre bar lets the strap creep or makes adjustment difficult. Burrs snag fibres, while thin or poorly formed bars bend under tension.

A matching colour does not establish coating durability or nickel release performance. Finish changes can leave the appearance similar while changing wear behaviour. Keep the approved threaded sample, identify production batches and repeat the agreed checks when the metal, tooling or finish changes.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.