Sourcing tassel trimmings from China

UK duty on tassel trimmings

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 November 2026, heading 5808 covers braids in the piece, qualifying ornamental trimmings without embroidery, tassels, pompons and similar articles. Tassels and tassel trimmings fall within the supplied Other line, 5808 90 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing that line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied line carries 4% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is recorded in the supplied facts. This tariff snapshot does not replace checks on the product's intended use.

Confirm the construction and commodity code before ordering, especially where the supplier describes embroidered, knitted or crocheted trims as tassel trimming. See the wider braids and decorative trimmings guide for the heading's other product families.

Specify the tassel and its attachment

Specify fibre composition, tassel length, head shape, fullness, spacing along the carrier tape, tape width and the sewing margin. For separate tassels, specify the hanging loop and its attachment. Agree colour references, dimensional tolerances, acceptable joins and packing that prevents tangling. Approve a physical sample sewn onto the intended fabric.

Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. For children's clothing, decorative cords and loops must be safe. Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH azo dye restrictions apply to dyed trims in contact with skin. Ask for fibre composition and test evidence relevant to the intended use, rather than accepting a general factory assurance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50,000 metres of polyester tassel trimming under 5808 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 4% is £264. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,864, so it is £1,372.80. Import taxes total £1,636.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £264 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shape and spacing: compare tassel length, fullness, head wrapping and spacing with the approved sample; check for uneven skirts, loose yarn and gaps along the tape.

Attachment: pull sampled tassels and hanging loops using the agreed inspection method; examine the knot, wrapping and stitching for movement or unravelled threads.

Colour and washing: test colour transfer against the intended fabric and wash sewn samples using the agreed care method; check bleeding, shrinkage, matting and seam puckering.

Packing and arrival: measure sampled roll lengths, check joins and colour labels, and inspect for tangled tassels, crushed heads, dampness and loose fibres. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A trim can match the colour card yet behave differently once sewn on. Dark yarn may stain pale fabric, the carrier tape may shrink and pucker the seam, or tassels may twist and mat after washing. Loose head wrapping can let the skirt yarns pull out.

Keep the approved sewn sample as the reference for production and arrival checks. Agree rejection criteria for attachment failures, uneven spacing, short rolls and excessive joins before the factory starts. Match the care test to how the finished garment or furnishing will actually be cleaned.

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.