Sourcing Real Fur Gilets from China
Real fur gilets from China under heading 4303 pay 2% UK duty across the supplied tariff lines, with no listed trade remedies or suspensions. Species checks come first: cat and dog fur is banned, seal products are restricted, and some species need CITES documents. Cambridge China Bridge sources real fur gilets.
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Duty and species controls for fur gilets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 14 November 2026, heading 4303 covers apparel, clothing accessories and other articles of furskin. Ordinary real fur gilets fall within the apparel line 4303 10 90 00. The table shows different materials sharing that code, rather than separate species codes. A textile gilet with only fur trim may instead be classified as the garment.
The supplied lines all carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The gilet line attaches restrictions on entry into free circulation, CITES import control, cat and dog fur control and seal product control. It also lists CITES and cat and dog fur export controls. Confirm the free-circulation restriction for the identified species and origin with your customs broker.
Confirm the commodity code using the finished garment's materials and construction. Do not use a raw-skin or dressed-skin code for a finished gilet. For the wider product family, see real fur trims.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit fur gilets | 4303 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the species, skin panels and fit
Specify the species and scientific name, farming or trapping origin, whole-skin or pieced construction, hair length, density, colour and panel matching. Approve chest measurements, body length, armhole shape, lining, pocket placement and fastening position against a finished sample. Agree how shedding, bare patches, odour and dye transfer will be assessed.
Cat and dog fur and products containing it cannot be imported or exported; confirm any restrictions on sale with the relevant authority. Confirm whether a seal product qualifies for an exemption with the relevant authority before ordering; products imported into Great Britain for trade must have a seal catch certificate. For a CITES-listed species, confirm the required documents with the relevant authorities before ordering from China.
Agree accurate species wording and care instructions. If the garment is a textile product containing fur, confirm the applicable animal-origin labelling requirement and wording with the relevant authority before approving the label. Confirm the applicable general product safety requirements in Great Britain with the relevant authority.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 rabbit fur gilets, illustrative order under 4303 10 90 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,500. Duty at 2% is £190. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,690, so it is £1,938. Import taxes total £2,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £190 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Species and origin: match the supplier's documents to the approved material and arrange independent species identification if uncertain. Check any applicable CITES documents and seal certification.
Fur and skin: inspect panel matching, hair direction, bare patches and shedding. Flex the skin backing and examine seams for tearing, stiffness, persistent odour and dye rub-off.
Fit and fastenings: compare chest, length and armholes with the approved specification. Check front alignment, pocket attachment, lining tension and repeated operation of hooks or zips.
Labels and packing: compare species descriptions, applicable animal-origin wording and care instructions with the approved artwork. Check for dampness, crushed pile and staining on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.
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What goes wrong
A sample can conceal the problems in a production batch: mixed species, visibly different skin panels, loose hair, brittle backing or dye transferred onto the lining. Pieced construction may also produce uneven fullness, while tight armholes and misplaced hooks make the finished gilet uncomfortable.
Keep an approved finished sample and inspect production garments against it before dispatch. Confirm species and applicable controls before paying for stock, and approve labels separately from the garment sample. A correct duty rate does not establish that a particular fur can be imported.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on real fur gilets from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 2% for 4303 10 90 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The read date is 14 November 2026.
Can I import any animal fur gilet from China?
No. Cat and dog fur is banned, and some species need CITES documents. Confirm whether any seal product qualifies for an exemption with the relevant authority. Confirm the species, origin and attached tariff controls before ordering.
Does every real fur gilet need the animal-origin textile label?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether the animal-origin labelling requirement applies to the garment. Assess the garment's construction rather than assuming every fur gilet is a textile product.
What should I check when fur gilets arrive?
Check species documentation, panel matching, shedding, skin flexibility, dye transfer, lining and fit. Compare fastening positions and labels with the approved finished sample.