Sourcing synthetic tennis shoes from China
Synthetic-upper tennis shoes with rubber or plastic uppers and outer soles under heading 6402 carry 16% UK duty across the listed lines. Confirm footwear composition-labelling requirements with the relevant authority; confirm the upper material and sporting construction before choosing a code. Cambridge China Bridge sources synthetic-upper tennis shoes.
Materials and construction decide the code
Heading 6402 covers footwear with rubber or plastic outer soles and uppers. This guide concerns synthetic-upper tennis shoes within that heading. The customs upper is determined by the material covering the greatest external surface area. Ask for material samples and a construction breakdown rather than relying on the word 'synthetic'. For basketball styles, see our synthetic-upper basketball shoe sourcing guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all listed lines carried 16% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The sports-footwear line has a fluorinated greenhouse gas import control. Official guidance prohibits using fluorinated gases in footwear. Ask the factory to identify any cushioning gas and confirm the import-control requirement with your customs broker.
The table gives candidate lines, not interchangeable codes: distinguish sporting construction from tennis-style leisure shoes, then check insole length and intended wearer where relevant. Confirm the commodity code against the actual sample. For wider heading coverage, see synthetic-upper football boots. For futsal styles, see our plastic-upper futsal shoe sourcing guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber or plastic-upper sports shoes, subject to classification | 6402 19 00 00 | 16% | None |
| Low-cut plastic-upper shoes, insoles under 24 cm | 6402 99 91 00 | 16% | None |
| Low-cut plastic-upper shoes, insoles at least 24 cm, unisex | 6402 99 93 00 | 16% | None |
| Men's low-cut plastic-upper shoes, insoles at least 24 cm | 6402 99 96 00 | 16% | None |
| Women's low-cut plastic-upper shoes, insoles at least 24 cm | 6402 99 98 00 | 16% | None |
Specify the court surface, fit and upper
State whether the shoe is intended for hard courts, clay or indoor use. Agree outsole tread, abrasion performance, cushioning, heel hold and lateral support against an approved sample. Specify upper material, lining, sock, fastening and toe reinforcement. Ask for wear trials involving lateral movement and stops on the intended surface.
Agree the UK size run and quantities by size, then approve fit and grading before production. Confirm with the relevant authority how footwear composition labels should identify the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole materials. Have the factory submit label artwork alongside the material specification. Agree sole bonding, flex and lining colour-transfer checks through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size trial order of men's synthetic-upper tennis-style shoes under 6402 99 96 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,480 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,480. Duty at 16% is £716.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,196.80, so it is £1,039.36. Import taxes total £1,756.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £716.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit and pairing: measure insole length against the approved size chart; check matching sizes, heel shape and left-right symmetry.
Sole and support: check bonding at the toe and edges, flex the forefoot, and compare heel hold and lateral support with the approved sample.
Upper and lining: check stitching, glue marks, colour matching and lining colour transfer; compare cushioning recovery after compression.
Labels and packing: match composition labels to the actual materials and box size marks to the shoes; check arriving cartons for dampness and mould. Use the agreed inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
A tennis-shaped leisure shoe can look right while allowing the foot to slide during lateral movement. A changed outsole compound can also alter grip and wear. Keep an approved construction sample and repeat the agreed performance checks when the factory changes materials.
Sole separation, mismatched sizing, lining dye transfer and flattened cushioning can turn saleable-looking stock into returns. Inspect production pairs before shipment and compare arriving stock with the approved sample. Do not accept a matching box label as proof of fit or materials.
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 synthetic tennis shoes from China?
The supplied tariff extract shows 16% across the listed heading 6402 lines, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Confirm the code against the shoe's materials and construction.
Are all synthetic tennis shoes classified under heading 6402?
Do not choose the heading from 'synthetic' alone. Check the actual upper and outer sole materials, sporting construction, ankle coverage and relevant size or wearer split against the sample.
What labels do imported tennis shoes need?
Confirm with the relevant authority how composition labels should identify the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole materials, including how to label mixed materials and whether any area or sole-volume thresholds apply.
What should I check in gas-cushioned tennis shoes?
Ask what gas the cushioning contains. Official guidance prohibits fluorinated gases in footwear, and the supplied sports-footwear line carries an import control. Confirm the declaration requirement with your customs broker.