Sourcing Sectioning Hair Clips from China
Sectioning hair clips from China carry 2% UK duty across the relevant heading lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures recorded. Confirm applicable consumer product safety requirements with the relevant authority; check springs, sharp edges and finishes before sale. Cambridge China Bridge sources sectioning hair clips.
Duty and material controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9615 covers combs, hair slides, hairpins, curling grips and related non-electrical articles. Its lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls to all these lines: products containing such fur are banned. It also attaches CITES import and export controls to 9615 19 00 00. If unusual animal or plant materials are proposed, confirm the applicable CITES requirement with your customs broker before ordering; stricter controls must be checked before a permit application.
The table separates product variants within the available tariff lines. A metal spring alone does not settle which line describes the finished clip. Send photographs, materials and the clip's function to your broker and confirm the commodity code. See the hair claw clips guide for related products within the heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic sectioning slides, subject to classification | 9615 11 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Metal sectioning slides, subject to classification | 9615 19 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Sectioning grips, subject to classification | 9615 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify jaws, springs and salon use
Specify the body material, jaw length and profile, opening span, hinge construction, spring material, coating and colour. State whether the clip should hold fine sections, thick wet hair or both. Agree whether teeth or smooth jaws are needed, and approve a sample using the intended hair type.
Agree repeated-opening, grip-retention and finish checks against the approved sample. Include contact with the salon products you intend to use in the test brief. Confirm with the relevant authority which general product safety and UK REACH requirements apply to the consumer hair accessories, plastics and coatings discussed in the site's existing hair-accessory guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of assorted plastic sectioning slides under 9615 11 00 00, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Grip: compare sampled clips on fine and thick hair sections, checking slippage, opening effort and spring recovery after repeated use.
Jaws and hinge: check alignment, loose pins, trapped hair, sharp metal edges and moulding flash along teeth and tips.
Finish: check coating coverage, rust, flaking and colour transfer; compare performance after contact with the agreed salon products.
Packing: count clips by colour and design, check damaged jaws and compressed springs, and confirm with the relevant authority which address details and risk warnings are needed on consumer retail packs. Use the inspection guide to agree the checks.
What goes wrong
A sample may grip well while production clips use weaker springs or misaligned jaws. Thin hair slips out, thick sections force the jaws apart, and exposed hinge gaps catch strands. Treat spring strength, jaw alignment and hinge fit as acceptance points rather than judging clips by appearance.
Brittle mouldings crack around the hinge, while poor plating rusts and rough edges snag hair. Compare incoming stock with the approved sample and record defects by design and colour before releasing it for sale.
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 sectioning hair clips from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 2% across heading 9615, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.
Are plastic and metal sectioning clips classified together?
Not necessarily. The heading separates plastic or hard-rubber slides, slides of other materials, and other grips. Confirm the finished clip's construction and function with your broker.
How do I check whether sectioning clips hold hair?
Compare production samples with the approved sample on the intended hair types. Check slippage, opening effort, jaw alignment and spring recovery after repeated opening.
What should I specify for clips used during colouring?
Identify the salon products the clips will contact. Agree checks for coating damage, colour transfer, cracking and grip retention after that contact.