Sourcing textile jazz shoes from China
Textile jazz shoes from China carry 16% UK duty across the selected lines, so there is no rate range within this selection. Confirm classification from the upper, outer sole and intended use. Confirm footwear composition-labelling requirements for UK sales with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources textile jazz shoes.
Textile jazz shoe duty and material controls
Heading 6404 covers textile uppers with rubber, plastic, leather or composition leather outer soles. Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all supplied lines carried 16% duty for China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspensions. The table gives classification candidates, rather than a code for every jazz shoe. The sports-footwear line also attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import control; confirm its requirements with your customs broker if that line is proposed.
The selected lines attach CITES and seal-product import controls; leather-soled lines also attach cat-and-dog-fur controls. CITES-listed leather needs the relevant permits for movement between China and Great Britain. Seal products may be imported for sale only in limited cases under strict conditions; confirm any applicable indigenous-hunt exemption and seal catch certificate requirement with the relevant authority. Cat and dog fur, including products containing it, cannot be imported or exported; confirm restrictions on placing such products on the UK market with the relevant authority. Ask your broker to confirm the attached controls against the actual materials.
Send your broker the upper and outer-sole materials, animal species where relevant, construction photographs and intended use to confirm the commodity code. A split sole or a dance-shoe description alone does not settle the choice between indoor and other footwear. For the wider textile-footwear heading, see textile ballet shoes.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textile-upper indoor footwear with rubber or plastic outer soles | 6404 19 10 00 | 16% | None |
| Other textile-upper footwear with rubber or plastic outer soles | 6404 19 90 00 | 16% | None |
| Textile-upper indoor footwear with leather or composition leather outer soles | 6404 20 10 00 | 16% | None |
| Other textile-upper footwear with leather or composition leather outer soles | 6404 20 90 00 | 16% | None |
Specify stretch, split soles and fit
Specify the upper fabric and stretch direction, lining, elastic inserts or laces, heel shape and outer-sole material. Draw the forefoot and heel pads and the flexible section between them for split-sole styles. Agree pad placement, edge finish and attachment method against an approved sample.
Approve fitting samples across the intended size run. Compare foot length, forefoot width, instep clearance and heel retention while pointing and flexing the foot. Trial the shoes on the intended dance floor to assess turning and grip together. Agree the quantity in each size before requesting a production quotation.
Confirm with the relevant authority the composition-labelling requirements for footwear sold in the UK, including how to identify the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole. Match label artwork to the actual materials. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Confirm applicable UK REACH restrictions on certain azo dyes in textile parts and chromium VI in skin-contact leather; agree material and colour coverage through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size batch of textile jazz shoe pairs; values are illustrative, not a quotation under 6404 19 10 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,000. Duty at 16% is £640. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,640, so it is £928. Import taxes total £1,568; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £640 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: compare production pairs with approved fitting samples, checking instep pressure, heel retention, elastic recovery and matched left and right sizes.
Soles: check forefoot and heel pad placement, flex the arch section and examine bonding for lifting, cracking and hard glue ridges.
Fabric and seams: check stretch direction, colour matching, rubbing transfer, skipped stitches and seams that press against the foot.
Labels and packing: match composition labels to the specification, check size allocation and inspect arrivals for damp packaging, mould and distorted heel sections.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A changed fabric or elastic can make the same marked size tighter across the instep or loose at the heel. Misplaced split-sole pads can interfere with flexing, while hard adhesive ridges and rough internal seams can rub. Test fit, turning and sole attachment on production samples before shipment.
Substituted sole materials can leave labels and customs descriptions inconsistent with the goods. Damp cartons can also conceal mould or staining until unpacking. Compare arrivals with the approved sample, record defects and hold affected stock for investigation. The quality inspection guide explains how to document findings.
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 textile jazz shoes from China?
The selected heading 6404 lines carried 16% duty on 30 September 2026, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspensions. Confirm the code for the actual upper, outer sole and use.
Which commodity code covers split-sole jazz shoes?
There is no dedicated split-sole jazz shoe line in the supplied tariff data. Send material details, construction photographs and intended use to your broker to confirm the indoor or other-footwear classification.
Do textile jazz shoes need composition labels?
Confirm with the relevant authority the labelling requirements for footwear sold in the UK, including how to identify the materials of the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole, and whether to use words or pictograms. Match the artwork to the actual production materials.
How do I check jazz shoe fit before ordering?
Approve samples across the intended size run. Check forefoot width, instep pressure, heel retention and flex while dancing, then trial turning and grip on the intended floor.