Sourcing violin bows from China

Violin bow duty and material controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 November 2026, heading 9209 covers musical instrument parts and accessories. The string-instrument accessories line, 9209 92 00 00, carries 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension shown. The table separates bow types sharing this commodity line.

The tariff attaches ivory import control and CITES import control to this line. Ivory-containing bows intended for sale need an applicable registration or exemption. For controlled CITES specimens entering Great Britain from China, apply for the relevant permit and obtain corresponding Chinese export documentation. Confirm species-specific requirements and any exemptions with your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code using the materials and description of the actual goods. For other products within this heading, see instrument strings and accessories. The tariff also lists export controls, including cultural-object licensing; these concern subsequent exports rather than the incoming order.

Specify the stick, hair and frog

Specify bow size, stick material, cross-section, weight, balance point, camber and stiffness against an approved sample. For wooden bows, ask for the scientific wood species rather than accepting a trade name. Identify materials in the frog, tip plate, slide, winding and grip, and request an ivory-free specification for new stock.

Specify natural horsehair or synthetic hair, ribbon width, evenness, fixing and replacement access. Agree frog travel, screw operation and the playing response on the intended violin. Consumer products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check the finished bow for splinters, sharp fittings and insecure parts.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 violin bows, illustrative order under 9209 92 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,900. Duty at 2% is £118. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,018, so it is £1,203.60. Import taxes total £1,321.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £118 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Stick: sight along the relaxed and tensioned bow for sideways warp, check camber against the sample, and inspect the head for cracks.

Hair: check an even ribbon, secure fixing and smooth tension adjustment; play samples for tracking, response and unwanted noise.

Frog and fittings: check screw engagement, smooth travel, secure winding and grip, and a frog that seats without excessive movement.

Packing and materials: compare material declarations with the approved specification, protect the head and frog, and check arrival stock for moisture damage. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspection.

What goes wrong

Bows can arrive with sideways warp, uneven hair tension, loose frogs or slipping screws. A bow that looks straight when relaxed can pull sideways under tension. Approve a playing sample and inspect the same features on production stock rather than judging the finish alone.

Undeclared ivory or vaguely described timber can leave the material-control checks unresolved. Obtain a component material list before approving substitutions. CITES musical instrument certificates cover non-commercial movements; they are not the route for a commercial stock order.

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.