Sourcing straw boater hats from China

UK duty on plaited straw boater hats

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6504 covers headgear plaited or assembled from strips, whether or not lined or trimmed. Plaited straw boaters fall within this description. The supplied tariff extract contains only the commodity line 6504 00 00 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed.

The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import. Seal products brought into Great Britain for trade must have a seal catch certificate; ask your customs broker to confirm eligibility before ordering any such trim. For CITES, ask the broker to confirm the requirements for the named straw species and any animal-derived decoration.

Send the broker photographs, the straw species and a material list covering the ribbon, sweatband, lining and decoration to confirm the commodity code. The wider straw headgear guide covers the broader product family.

Specify the flat crown and rigid brim

Name the straw species and require approval before material substitution. Specify plait width, joining method, head circumference, crown height, flat crown shape, brim width and stiffness. Agree acceptable natural colour variation using physical samples. State the ribbon material, colour, width, bow position and attachment, plus sweatband material and lining.

Consumer hats supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check exposed straw ends, rough seams and detachable decoration when approving the sample. Agree how hats will be supported and separated in cartons so that nesting does not distort the flat crown or leave ribbon impressions.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 900 plaited straw boater hats, illustrative only under 6504 00 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,900, so it is £1,980. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shape and fit: measure head circumference, crown height and brim width against the approved sample; check that the crown stays flat and the brim sits level.

Plait and finish: inspect joins, broken strands, gaps, loose stitching, exposed sharp ends and glue marks. Compare colour and stiffness across sampled hats.

Ribbon and sweatband: check bow placement, attachment and sweatband seams; test colour transfer from dyed parts against the agreed sample and intended wear.

Packing and arrival: check crown supports, separators, carton contents and size labels. Open cartons for dampness, mould, odour and crushed brims. Record defects using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Boaters can arrive with oval crowns, tilted brims or crushed edges after tight nesting. Uneven plait joins create ridges, brittle strands break at the brim edge, and stiff sweatbands make the labelled size uncomfortable. Damp packing can leave mould or odour; dark ribbons and sweatbands can transfer colour.

Keep the approved sample and material list with the order. Compare production hats before dispatch and unpack arrival samples before accepting the batch. Record whether damage follows the packing position, material or construction, so the factory can correct the cause.

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.