Sourcing ric-rac braid from China

UK duty on ric-rac braid

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 5808 covers braids in the piece and other ornamental trimmings without embroidery, other than knitted or crocheted, together with tassels, pompons and similar articles. Ric-rac supplied as braid in the piece uses 5808 10 00 00. The table shows material examples sharing that tariff line, rather than separate material-specific codes.

The duty for goods from China is 4%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for this line. The wider heading's other line also carries 4%.

Confirm the construction and commodity code before ordering, particularly if the supplier describes a woven ribbon as ric-rac. See braids and decorative trimmings for the wider heading.

Specify the wave shape and sewing behaviour

State fibre composition, colour reference, finish and intended fabric. Define whether width means the overall distance across the wave tips or the width of the braided strip. Specify wave height and spacing with a drawing and an approved physical sample. Agree tolerances, roll length, permitted joins and packing so the factory and inspector measure the same features.

Sew the sample onto the intended fabric and wash it using the planned care method. Check whether the waves lie flat, remain evenly spaced and pucker the seam. For dyed braid in skin contact, confirm any applicable azo dye restriction under UK REACH with the relevant authority. Ask for the fibre composition so garment customers can prepare their textile labels.

Ric-rac sold directly to consumers must be safe. Products should only be sold once compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately. Assess the finished use when the braid forms loose loops or decorative ties on children's clothing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20,000 metres of polyester ric-rac braid under 5808 10 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 4% is £264. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,864, so it is £1,372.80. Import taxes total £1,636.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £264 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Wave geometry: measure overall width, braided-strip width, wave height and spacing against the approved drawing. Unwind samples without stretching them and check for flattened or irregular waves.

Colour and finish: compare each colour and batch with the approved sample. Check rubbing and washing colour transfer against the intended fabric, and look for loose yarns, rough metallic threads and uneven sheen.

Sewing and washing: stitch braid onto the intended fabric, wash the assembly and check shrinkage, seam puckering, twisting and loss of wave shape.

Rolls and packing: measure sampled roll lengths, check joins against the agreement and match fibre, colour and batch details to the packing list. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.

What goes wrong

A supplier may measure the braided strip while the buyer means the full wave width. The braid then arrives looking too narrow despite matching the supplier's measurement. Wave spacing can also drift between batches, making adjoining lengths visibly different.

Dark colours can transfer onto pale fabric, and shrinkage can gather an otherwise flat seam. Tight winding can distort the waves, while hidden joins interrupt sewing. Approve a sewn and washed sample, retain the agreed drawing and inspect unwound braid before 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.