Sourcing straight razors from China

Straight razors: a flat 2% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 10 November 2026, heading 8212 covers razors, razor blades and razor parts. Complete straight razors fall under 8212 10 90 00. The selected lines all carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension recorded. The carbon-steel and stainless-steel rows share the same commodity code.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to complete razors. CITES can cover items made from listed animal or plant material, making handle materials a relevant check. Listed species require the appropriate permit or documentation. For a China shipment, ask your customs broker and APHA to confirm the species-specific documents before dispatch; do not assume every wooden or horn handle has the same requirements.

Confirm the commodity code using the complete razor design, blade replacement method and any separately supplied blades or parts. Safety razor replacement blades have their own line; do not assume every loose straight-razor blade belongs there. See the wider razor and blade guide for the rest of the heading.

Specify the steel, grind and supplied edge

State whether you need a traditional blade that is honed and stropped, or a holder for replaceable blades. For traditional razors, agree the steel grade, heat treatment, blade width, grind profile, point shape and finish. Define whether the supplied edge is ready for shaving or needs further honing, and keep an approved sample against which production can be checked.

Specify handle material, pivot construction, blade centring when closed and resistance to opening. Ask for the species identity of natural handle materials. Agree corrosion protection, protective packing and care instructions. For replaceable-blade designs, identify the exact compatible blade and check that the holder grips it securely without uneven exposure.

Straight razors sold as consumer products in Great Britain fall under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. In England and Wales they must not be sold to under-18s. Plan the retail sales process before placing the order, and agree inspection criteria through quality inspection explained.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative stock order of individually boxed straight razors for a barber-supply retailer under 8212 10 90 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 2% is £196. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,996, so it is £1,999.20. Import taxes total £2,195.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £196 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Steel and edge: compare material records and sample hardness with the agreed specification; inspect for chips, burrs, uneven bevels and grinding marks. Have an experienced assessor check the supplied edge against the approved sample.

Pivot and handle: open and close sampled razors, check lateral movement and confirm the edge clears the handle when folded. Look for cracked scales, loose rivets and sharp unfinished handle edges.

Corrosion and blade fit: inspect unpacked blades for rust and staining, then check agreed wet-use samples. On replaceable-blade models, verify retention, alignment and safe removal using the specified blade.

Packing and identification: check that the closed razor stays protected during handling and cannot cut through its pack. Check the UK importer's name and address on the packaging, material descriptions and agreed care instructions.

What goes wrong

A polished blade can still have an uneven bevel or an edge that pulls rather than cuts. Inconsistent heat treatment can leave the edge prone to dulling or chipping. Loose pivots let the blade move sideways, while poor centring brings the edge into contact with the handle. Moisture trapped under protective oil or inside packaging can leave rust spots before arrival.

Approve the finished edge and assembled razor, rather than judging photographs alone. Keep the sample, drawings and inspection findings together. Reject unapproved substitutions of steel or handle material, and compare arrival samples with the same checks used before shipment.

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.