Sourcing PVC-coated woven rain suits from China

12% duty on ordinary coated woven rainwear

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6210 covers garments made from specified felt, nonwoven, coated or rubberised fabrics. This guide concerns PVC-coated woven rain suits. The table gives candidate lines for rain jackets and trousers, rather than treating every suit as a single tariff item.

The relevant lines carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls in the supplied tariff record. The suspensions on 6210 40 00 00 and 6210 50 00 00 are restricted to specified surgical or medical protective garments. Ordinary rain suits do not qualify.

Confirm the commodity code using the fabric construction, coating and garment design. Give your broker specifications for the jacket and trousers separately. For the wider heading's nonwoven garments, see disposable coveralls.

Specify the coating, seams and protective use

Specify woven backing fibre, fabric weight, PVC coating weight and side, colour, flexibility, seam construction and sealing method. Agree hood adjustment, storm flap, cuff closure, trouser waist and ankle opening. Approve a size chart that allows movement over work clothing, and a finished sample with the intended labels and packaging.

Decide the intended use and protective claims before ordering. For garments within the personal protective equipment rules in Great Britain, conformity assessment must follow the risk category. For high-visibility clothing sold to protect the wearer, confirm the applicable assessment, declaration and marking requirements with the relevant product safety authority. Match the documentation to the actual garment, colour and construction.

Textile labels must show fibre content. UK REACH restrictions can limit or prohibit substances in articles, so ask a laboratory to identify relevant checks for the coating, backing and trims. For consumer rainwear, the importer is responsible for product safety. Use testing and certification support to define the evidence needed for your intended market.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 men's PVC-coated woven rain jackets under 6210 20 00 10, 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

Coating: compare production with the approved sample for weight, flexibility, pinholes, peeling and tackiness. Flex folded areas and inspect whether the coating separates from the woven backing.

Water entry: test finished garments at shoulder seams, crotch seams, hood joins, pocket openings and front closures. Check sealing continuity and adhesion after the agreed care procedure.

Fit and closures: measure each sampled size, check jacket and trouser size pairing, and try bending and reaching over work clothing. Operate zips, poppers and waist adjusters.

Labels and packing: check fibre labels, care information, size identification and any protective-use documentation against the approved artwork. Inspect arriving cartons for dampness and garments for sticking or mould. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A waterproof fabric sample does not establish that a finished rain suit keeps water out. Needle holes, incomplete seam sealing and poorly covered closures can cause leaks. Coating substitution can change stiffness and adhesion, while tight trousers can strain crotch seams when the wearer crouches.

Other failures include mismatched jacket and trouser sizes, coating that sticks in folded packaging, and breathability claims unsupported by tests. A generic protective-clothing report may describe a different fabric or garment. Compare production pieces and documents with the approved specification before accepting the shipment.

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.