Sourcing plaited straw cowboy hats from China

Duty and controls for straw cowboy hats

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6504 covers hats plaited or assembled from strips of any material, whether lined or trimmed. Plaited straw cowboy hats under 6504 00 00 00 carry 0% duty from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows product variants sharing the same commodity line.

The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Cat and dog fur and products containing it are prohibited from import and sale. Seal products are subject to a ban; ask your customs broker to confirm any exemption and its documentation before ordering such trims. For CITES-listed materials, confirm the applicable permit requirements with your broker. Identify the straw and every animal-derived trim before shipment.

Confirm the construction and materials through finding your commodity code. A cowboy silhouette alone does not establish classification. For related products within the wider heading, see plaited straw boater hats.

Specify the crown crease and curled brim

Name the actual straw material rather than accepting a description of straw-look. Agree the plait pattern, colour reference, crown height and crease, brim width, side curl and stiffness. Specify the internal head circumference by size, sweatband material, hatband attachment and any chinstrap. Approve a physical sample with the intended carton packing.

Include exposed straw ends, brim-wire ends and loose decorations in your safety review. For dyed textile sweatbands and metal parts in prolonged skin contact, confirm with the relevant authority whether UK REACH restrictions on azo dyes or nickel release apply.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 900 plaited straw cowboy hats, illustrative order 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 internal circumference, crown height and brim width against the approved sample; compare the crown crease and side curls across sizes.

Plait and finish: check for broken strands, uneven gaps, sharp ends, glue marks and exposed brim wire; compare colour and stiffness with the sample.

Bands and straps: check sweatband stitching and colour transfer, hatband alignment, decoration security and chinstrap attachment against the agreed specification.

Packing and arrival: open cartons to check crushed crowns, flattened curls, dampness, mould and size assortments. Agree supports and separation before shipment; use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A sample can have the right cowboy profile while bulk hats arrive with shallow creases, uneven curls or tight sweatbands. Changing the straw or stiffening treatment can change the feel and shape. Record the approved material and profile, and compare production hats after unpacking rather than while tightly nested.

Packing can flatten the brim or press the crown out of shape. Damp hats can arrive with mould or an odour, and dark sweatbands can transfer colour. Trial the carton arrangement with finished hats and record the condition expected after unpacking.

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.