Sourcing replacement mannequin arms from China
Replacement mannequin arms from China carry 0% UK duty if confirmed under heading 9618; the supplied tariff line has no rate variation. Consumer-use arms must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Match shoulder and wrist fittings before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources replacement mannequin arms.
Duty and classification for replacement arms
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 9618 covers tailors' dummies and other lay figures, automata and other animated shop-window displays. Its supplied line, 9618 00 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed.
The tariff attaches import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of that fur, and products made from it, are banned. For arms with any fur covering, establish the material before ordering and ask your customs broker to confirm the declaration requirement.
The table repeats the supplied tariff line for purchasing variants; it does not establish that separately imported arms belong there. Ask your customs broker to confirm classification using material details, photographs and the intended mannequin model. See finding your commodity code and the related replacement mannequin hands guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibreglass replacement mannequin arms, subject to classification confirmation | 9618 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the shoulder connection and arm pose
Identify the existing mannequin model and supply an original arm or a dimensioned drawing. Specify left or right side, material, arm length, elbow bend, shoulder connector shape, locking direction and wrist connection. State whether hands, connector plates and fixing hardware are included. Approve a sample fitted to the actual torso.
Match colour, gloss and surface texture to the existing body. Agree dimensional tolerances and packing that protects the shoulder fitting and wrist end. General product safety rules in Great Britain cover products intended for, or foreseeably used by, consumers; applicable arms must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 300 fibreglass replacement mannequin arms, assuming classification confirmed under 9618 00 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £590 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,090. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,090, so it is £618. 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
Compatibility: fit sampled arms to the intended torso and hands; check locking, alignment, clearance and removal without forcing the connectors.
Finish: compare colour and gloss with the approved sample and existing body; check shoulder and wrist areas for cracks, chips, exposed fibres and sharp fitting edges.
Order identity: check left and right sides, pose, material and included hardware against the purchase specification and carton identification.
Packing: check that arms cannot strike each other and that connector plates cannot puncture the wrapping. Repeat the fit check on arrival. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
An arm can look correct but have a shoulder plate that does not seat or locks at the wrong angle. A mismatched wrist fitting leaves the existing hand unusable. Buying from photographs alone also misses differences in elbow pose, colour and gloss.
Thin protection around protruding fittings leaves chipped shoulders or cracked wrist ends after transport. Keep the approved fitted sample and record connector details for repeat orders. Agree how the supplier will identify incompatible or damaged arms before dispatch.
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 replacement mannequin arms from China?
The supplied line 9618 00 00 00 carries 0% duty for China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure listed. Confirm that separately supplied arms belong under this code.
Will replacement arms fit my existing mannequins?
Confirm using an original arm or dimensioned connector drawing, then fit the sample to your actual torso and hand. Appearance alone does not establish compatibility.
Do replacement mannequin arms include hands?
Agree this in the specification. State whether hands, shoulder connector plates and fixing hardware are included, and confirm compatibility with any parts you intend to reuse.
What should I check when replacement arms arrive?
Check side, pose, finish, shoulder locking and wrist fit. Look for cracks and chipped paint around fittings, and compare the delivered arms with the approved fitted sample.