Sourcing taper candles from China
Taper candles from China carry 0% UK import duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. For sale in Great Britain, the general product safety requirement applies: only safe products may be placed on the market. Check holder fit and burn performance for the supplied wax and wick combination. Cambridge China Bridge sources taper candles.
Taper candle duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 10 October 2026, heading 3406 covers candles, tapers and the like. Taper candles fall under 3406 00 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing that commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications.
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, no suspensions and no attached import controls. Zero duty does not remove the product safety requirement for sale in Great Britain.
Confirm the finished goods and any separately supplied holders against the commodity code guide. For another candle family within the same heading, see tealight candles. For church candles, see our church candle sourcing guide. For pillar candles, see our pillar candle sourcing guide. For cake decorations, see our birthday cake candle sourcing guide. For gel candles, see our gel candle sourcing guide. For citronella candles, see our citronella candle sourcing guide. For massage candles, see our massage candle sourcing guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain taper candles | 3406 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the taper and its holder fit
Agree the wax blend, length, base diameter, taper profile, colour, surface finish and wick material. Send the intended holder or a drawing of its socket so the factory can check seating and upright stability. Specify whether the colour runs through the wax or is a surface coating. For beeswax options, see our beeswax candle sourcing guide.
Approve burn samples made with the production wax, wick, colour and any fragrance. Record dripping, soot, flame behaviour and the claimed burn time. Agree protective packing that supports the candles without marking their surfaces.
For Great Britain, general product safety rules require safe products and relevant information about risks and precautions. Agree the warning artwork before production. If scented tapers are ordered, obtain the fragrance supplier's safety data sheet and conformity certificate for the concentration used, as described in the site's candle guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial shipment of boxed taper candles for a homeware retailer under 3406 00 00 00, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £1,168 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,368. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,368, so it is £673.60. 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
Shape and fit: check straightness, length, base diameter and seating in the approved holder; look for leaning, loose fit and cracked bases.
Wick and burn: check wick alignment and burn production samples in the intended holder against the approved sample, recording dripping, soot and flame behaviour.
Finish and packing: compare colour and coating with the approved sample; inspect for scratches, wax transfer, bending and breakage after unpacking.
Warnings: check the approved safety information is present and legible. Include these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A taper can match the colour sample yet fit the holder badly. Bases that are too wide do not seat fully; undersized bases leave candles leaning. Thin sections can bend during transport, and coatings can rub onto neighbouring candles.
Wax or wick changes can alter dripping, soot and flame behaviour even when the candle looks unchanged. Approve the actual production combination and compare arrival samples with the retained sample before accepting the batch.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on taper candles from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% under 3406 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Which safety rule applies to taper candles sold in Great Britain?
The general product safety requirement applies: products must be safe, and consumers must receive relevant information about risks and precautions.
How do I check whether taper candles fit my holders?
Agree the base diameter and profile using the actual holder or its socket drawing. Check production samples seat securely and remain upright.
Can I rely on a factory's drip-free claim?
Agree the conditions for the claim and burn-test production samples in the intended holder. Compare the wax and wick combination with the approved sample.