Sourcing tubular woven webbing from China

UK duty on tubular woven webbing

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5806 covers narrow woven fabrics, including the relevant lines for tubular woven webbing. The listed cotton, man-made fibre and elastic fabric lines all carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.

Tubular construction alone does not select the commodity code. Check the fibre composition, elastomeric yarn or rubber thread content, and whether the fabric has real selvedges. The elastic line covers fabrics containing by weight 5% or more of elastomeric yarn or rubber thread. Confirm the commodity code using the actual construction and a sample.

For the wider product family, see non-elastic woven polyester webbing. Keep raw webbing specifications separate from claims about the performance of a finished harness, sling or other assembly.

Specify the tube, not just its flattened width

State the fibre, yarn construction, flattened width, wall thickness, mass per length and intended use. Describe whether the webbing must accept a cord, slide over a component or flatten beneath stitching. Approve a sample fitted to the actual insert or fitting, and record acceptable variation in writing.

Agree breaking strength and elongation against the intended application, then test sewn samples using the proposed thread and stitch pattern. Specify colour, rubbing performance, washing behaviour and the treatment of cut ends. A raw-webbing strength report does not establish the strength of the sewn assembly.

UK REACH restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances in articles. For webbing intended for direct and prolonged skin contact, confirm with HSE whether azo colourant restrictions apply. Ask for dye and finish information and colour-specific test evidence before approving production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 5,000 metres of tubular woven webbing under 5806 32 90 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,700. Duty at 6% is £342. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,042, so it is £1,208.40. Import taxes total £1,550.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £342 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Tube opening: pass the agreed insert through samples from different rolls; check for trapped yarns, blocked sections and internal joins.

Dimensions: measure flattened width and wall thickness under agreed conditions, and check roll length and declared fibre against the purchase specification.

Performance: compare breaking strength, elongation and sewn-joint results with the approved specification; check rubbing and washing on each colour.

Roll condition: check twists, loose picks, abrasion, dampness and undisclosed joins. Keep roll identities with the inspection record.

What goes wrong

A tube can meet its flattened width yet be too tight internally because the yarn or wall thickness has changed. Loose yarns catch an inserted cord, joins interrupt threading, and twists make cutting and sewing difficult. Test the actual assembly before accepting a substitute yarn or weave.

Webbing may break beside stitching, slip through a fitting or transfer dye when damp despite matching the approved colour visually. Quarantine affected rolls on arrival, retain samples and compare them with the approved construction and performance results before using them in production.

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.