Sourcing swimming goggle frames from China
Swimming goggle frames and relevant frame parts under heading 9003 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Consumer products must be safe; assess whether a replacement frame falls within PPE rules before sale. Cambridge China Bridge sources swimming goggle frames.
0% duty on swimming goggle frames
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9003 covers frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or similar products, and their parts. This guide concerns swimming goggle frames supplied without lenses and relevant frame parts. Choose the line by material and whether the shipment contains frames or parts. See the wider goggle-frame guide.
The selected lines carry 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension recorded. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to the non-plastic frame lines and the other-parts line. For CITES-listed materials, check permit requirements. Ask your customs broker to confirm the documentation required for the actual species and shipment from China.
Give your broker the material breakdown, photographs and a description of what is supplied. Confirm the commodity code, especially for mixed-material frames or separate flexible seals. Keep assembled products distinct from bare frames; use the finished swimming-goggles guide when buying goggles with lenses.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic swimming goggle frames without lenses | 9003 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Base-metal swimming goggle frames without lenses | 9003 19 00 40 | 0% | None |
| Swimming goggle frames of other materials, without lenses | 9003 19 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Other swimming goggle frame parts | 9003 90 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the lens seat, seal and bridge
Specify the frame resin, colour, rigidity, lens-seat profile, gasket attachment, nose-bridge geometry and strap connection. Supply drawings and matching lenses, seals and straps for assembly trials. State whether seals are included or supplied separately. Agree acceptable moulding flash, surface finish and fit against an approved sample.
Consumer frames supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Ask for a documented assessment of whether a replacement frame falls within personal protective equipment rules, taking account of its intended protective function. PPE within scope must meet the applicable essential health and safety requirements. Arrange testing and certification for the actual product and intended use.
Agree checks after exposure to pool water, repeated flexing and storage in the proposed packaging. Examine the frame with its intended lens and seal fitted, rather than judging a loose moulding alone. For metal parts in prolonged skin contact, check the UK REACH nickel restriction described in the site's spectacle-frame guidance.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10,000 plastic swimming goggle frames under 9003 11 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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
Lens fit: assemble production frames with the intended lenses and check retention, seating and distortion around the lens edge.
Seal and bridge: check gasket attachment, bridge symmetry and contact surfaces; test the assembled goggles for leakage.
Strap connections: pull and adjust the intended straps, checking for slipping, cracked slots and sharp moulding flash.
Arrival condition: compare material and colour with approved samples, inspect for warping and stress cracks, and check that model and batch records match the cartons.
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What goes wrong
A frame can look correct but have a lens groove that is too shallow or a seal attachment that changes under tension. The result is loose lenses, leaks or pressure around the eyes. Bridge and strap-slot changes can also make an approved assembly difficult to reproduce.
Resin substitutions, moulding flash and packing pressure can produce brittle strap connections, rough contact edges or warped lens seats. Keep assembly samples from production, compare them with the approved sample and inspect the shipment before dispatch. Repeat the fit and condition checks on arrival before releasing stock.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on swimming goggle frames from China?
The relevant heading 9003 frame and other-parts lines carry 0% duty from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded in the supplied tariff data.
Does this guide cover complete swimming goggles?
It covers frames without lenses and relevant frame parts. Use the finished swimming-goggles guide for assembled goggles, and confirm the commodity code for the actual shipment.
Do swimming goggle frames need CE or UKCA marking?
Assess whether the particular frame falls within PPE rules before agreeing marking. Ask a compliance specialist to review its intended function and how it is supplied.
What should I check on replacement swimming goggle frames?
Check compatibility with the intended lenses, seals and straps, bridge symmetry, lens retention, sharp edges and cracking. Test leakage on the assembled goggles.