Sourcing polo whips from China
Polo whips from China carry 2% UK import duty across the hand-made and other lines of heading 6602. Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check shaft, grip and tip materials before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources polo whips.
Polo whip import duty: 2%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6602 covers walking sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and the like. Both polo whip lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Only the hand-made and other commodity lines are available.
The tariff attaches CITES, seal-product and torture-goods import controls. For listed species, check the relevant CITES permit route before shipping from China. Seal products can enter the market only in limited cases under strict conditions; confirm the documentation with your customs broker before accepting seal-derived materials. The torture-equipment import ban includes whips with multiple lashes or thongs. Have the broker check the actual design against the controlled descriptions.
The record also attaches torture-goods and CITES export controls. Confirm their requirements with your customs broker if re-exporting. Confirm the commodity code against the construction and manufacturing method. Our show jumping whips guide provides related sourcing coverage within the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made polo whips | 6602 00 00 10 | 2% | None |
| Other polo whips | 6602 00 00 90 | 2% | None |
Specify the polo whip's shaft, grip and tip
Describe the intended polo use and approve a physical sample. Specify overall length, shaft material, taper, flexibility, balance, grip diameter and surface, tip construction and attachment, colour and branding. Agree how length is measured and how flexibility will be compared with the approved sample. Ask the intended club or competition organiser to review the design before you approve production.
Ask for the material and species identity of any leather, wood or other animal or plant component. Specify whether the grip is stitched, wrapped or moulded, and how it is secured to the shaft. Record acceptable seams, exposed edges and finish. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use; assess shaft breakage, exposed fibres and detached tips.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 900 polo whips, illustrative order under 6602 00 00 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,900. Duty at 2% is £198. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,098, so it is £2,019.60. Import taxes total £2,217.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £198 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Shaft: compare length, straightness, taper, balance and flex with the approved sample. Inspect for cracks, splinters, exposed fibres and permanent bending after the agreed flex check.
Grip: twist and pull using the agreed inspection method. Check for slipping wraps, loose stitching, sharp joins and colour transfer onto a damp cloth.
Tip: check shape, edge finish, stitching and attachment. Flex the junction and inspect for separation, exposed adhesive or hard projections.
Arrival: inspect cartons for crushing and moisture, then check whips for distortion, mould and damaged wrapping. Match model and batch identification to the order and packing list.
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What goes wrong
A whip can match the sample's colour while feeling different in use because the shaft stiffness or grip weight has changed. Loose wrapping, a rotating handle and a separating tip are useful rejection checks. Record the approved construction and inspection method in the order, then compare production samples before dispatch.
Do not accept a generic riding-crop sample as approval for a polo whip. Confirm the intended handling and tip design with the buyer's users. Agree protective packing that keeps shafts straight and tips apart. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.
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 polo whips from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 2% for both 6602 00 00 10, hand-made, and 6602 00 00 90, other. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Can I use a riding-crop sample to order polo whips?
Approve a sample for the intended polo use. Agree shaft flex, balance, grip and tip construction, and ask the intended club or competition organiser to review the design.
Do leather polo whips need a CITES check?
Identify the species used rather than relying on the word leather. Check whether it is CITES-listed and confirm the applicable permit route before shipment.
What should I inspect when polo whips arrive?
Check shaft straightness and flex, grip security, tip attachment, exposed fibres, colour transfer and moisture damage. Compare the goods with the approved sample and order.