Sourcing textile finishing agents from China
Finishing agents, dye carriers, dressings and mordants for the textile, paper and leather industries from China pay 6% UK duty, or 8% if starch-based, with no anti-dumping duty. One listed phosphonate flame-retardant mixture is suspended to 0% until 2028. Buyers need full safety data sheets, a UK REACH position and wash-fastness and pH tests on treated fabric.
Textile softeners, finishing agents, dye carriers and paper and leather auxiliaries from China pay 6% or 8% UK duty. Chemical rules and lab checks explained.
6% or 8% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 3809 covers finishing agents, dye carriers to accelerate dyeing or fixing, and other products and preparations such as dressings and mordants, of a kind used in the textile, paper, leather or like industries, not elsewhere specified. The four starch-based lines, split by starch content, carried 8% on goods from China; the textile, paper and leather lines carried 6%. There is no anti-dumping measure.
A mixture of two cyclic phosphonates used as a textile flame retardant is suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028 within 3809 91 00, and an aqueous antimony pentoxide mixture has its own line at 6%. Surfactants and detergents are heading 3402 and organic dyes 3204 (see our textile dyes guide), so confirm the commodity code from the function and composition.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starch-based, by starch content (four lines) | 3809 10 10 00 to 3809 10 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Textile auxiliaries: aqueous antimony pentoxide mixture | 3809 91 00 30 | 6% | None |
| Textile auxiliaries, other (softeners, repellents, flame retardants) | 3809 91 00 90 | 6%; listed phosphonate flame retardant 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Paper industry auxiliaries | 3809 92 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Leather industry auxiliaries | 3809 93 00 00 | 6% | None |
Chemical and fire rules
Finishing agents are mixtures, so they need labels and safety data sheets under the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 where they meet a hazard classification, and the importer needs a UK REACH position for the substances in them. Ask for full disclosure of hazardous components, including any formaldehyde releasers, alkylphenol ethoxylates or fluorinated repellents.
Flame-retardant finishes for upholstery covers must let the finished fabric pass the tests in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, so the chemical supplier should give the add-on level and curing conditions that achieved the pass.
Specifying finishing agents
Specify the function (softener, water or oil repellent, flame retardant, crease resist, antistatic, dye carrier), chemistry and active content, ionic character, pH and viscosity, compatibility with other bath chemicals, recommended dosage and curing, shelf life, packaging in drums or IBCs, and the safety data sheet language.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 15 tonnes of silicone softener emulsion for textile finishing, commodity code 3809 91 00 90, bought for £24,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance, so £26,200 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 6% rate for softener is £1,572. VAT at 20% applies to £27,772, so £5,554.40. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £1,572 to the landed cost. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Chemistry: check solids content, pH, viscosity and appearance on each batch against the certificate of analysis and the approved sample.
Performance: apply a trial to your fabric and test the treated fabric for pH of aqueous extract to ISO 3071, free formaldehyde to ISO 14184-1 and colour fastness to washing to ISO 105-C06.
Documents: check the safety data sheet, CLP label and UK REACH information, and for flame retardants the fire test result on the finished fabric.
What goes wrong
Finishing agent orders fail on consistency, hidden chemistry and fabric results. Solids content varies between batches, emulsions separate in storage, undisclosed formaldehyde releasers or alkylphenols appear in fabric tests, and a flame retardant that passed on the sample fabric fails on the production fabric.
Test each batch on your fabric and demand full composition. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources textile and leather auxiliaries for UK dye houses and finishers, checking the formulator's laboratory first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on textile softeners from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, textile finishing agents under 3809 91 00 90 carried 6% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Why are some finishing agents 8%?
Starch-based dressings and finishing agents have their own lines under 3809 10, at 8%.
Are fabric flame retardants suspended?
Only a listed mixture of two cyclic phosphonates is suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028; other flame retardants pay 6%.
Are dyes in heading 3809?
No. Organic dyes are heading 3204; 3809 covers finishing agents and auxiliaries.