Sourcing textile lanyards from China
Textile lanyards under heading 6307 carry UK duty of 6% to 12% from China, depending on construction and classification. Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. Specify the strap, badge attachment and breakaway behaviour before approving samples. Cambridge China Bridge sources textile lanyards.
UK duty on textile lanyards
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6307 covers other made-up articles. The table gives candidate lines for textile lanyards, rather than confirmed classifications for every design. The knitted or crocheted line carries 12%; the felt, hand-made and other textile lines shown carry 6% for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded on these lines.
The suspension recorded on the hand-made and other textile lines is restricted to specified textile face masks; it does not provide relief for lanyards. The selected lines attach CITES import and export controls. Where material contains a listed species, check the relevant documentation with your broker. Official guidance requires permits for species listed in the specified annexes. The hand-made and other textile lines also attach torture-goods import prohibitions and export restrictions; confirm their scope with your broker.
Supply fabric construction, material, photographs, fittings and intended use when confirming the commodity code. Keep the textile strap specification separate from the rigid plastic badge holder specification. For costing, see UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other made-up textile articles: candidate for woven textile lanyards | 6307 90 98 99 | 6% | None |
| Hand-made textile articles: candidate for hand-made lanyards | 6307 90 98 91 | 6% | None |
| Knitted or crocheted articles: candidate for knitted lanyards | 6307 90 10 00 | 12% | None |
| Felt articles: candidate for felt lanyards | 6307 90 91 00 | 6% | None |
Specify the strap and badge connection
State fibre blend, woven or knitted construction, finished strap width and loop length, edge finish, colour and printing method. Provide artwork showing its orientation when worn. Specify the clip, swivel, detachable buckle and badge-holder connection, and approve them together on a physical sample.
Describe who will wear the lanyard and where it will be used. Decide whether a breakaway fitting is needed, then agree how its release and reconnection will be assessed. Treat snagging, neck entanglement and sharp metal fittings as sample-review questions; a breakaway fitting alone does not settle safety.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 6,000 woven textile lanyards, illustrative order under 6307 90 98 99, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 6% is £588. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,388, so it is £2,077.60. Import taxes total £2,665.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £588 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Strap: measure finished width and loop length against the approved sample; check rough edges, twisting and inconsistent fabric.
Print: compare colour, spelling, logo orientation and registration across cartons; rub the print and check colour transfer onto a light cloth.
Fittings: check clip fit on the actual badge holder, swivel movement, sharp edges and stitching at attachment points; assess breakaway release against the agreed procedure.
Packing: check quantities by colour and design, carton identification and moisture damage. Retain samples and photographs from quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A strap can match the artwork while the logo hangs upside down when worn. Thin webbing twists, rough edges irritate the neck, print transfers onto clothing and attachment stitching opens under load. A substituted clip may not fit the buyer’s badge holder.
Approve the complete assembly and record the fabric, artwork, fittings and release behaviour together. Ask inspectors to compare production with that retained assembly. Keep suspect stock separate while investigating colour transfer, sharp fittings or inconsistent breakaway performance.
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 lanyards from China?
The candidate heading 6307 lines carry 6% to 12%: knitted or crocheted articles are 12%, while the felt, hand-made and other textile lines shown are 6%. Confirm the finished product’s code.
Do textile lanyards need a breakaway fitting?
Decide from the intended wearer and setting, and assess snagging and neck-entanglement risks. Agree a release-check procedure rather than accepting a supplier’s safety description.
Can I order lanyards and badge holders together?
Yes. Approve the assembled sample so the clip fits the holder and the badge hangs correctly. Describe the textile strap and plastic holder separately for classification review.
What should I check when lanyards arrive?
Check strap dimensions, print orientation, colour transfer, attachment stitching, clip fit and breakaway consistency against the approved sample, then verify packing by design and colour.