Sourcing whiteboard markers from China

UK duty on whiteboard markers

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, heading 9608 covers pens, markers, other writing instruments and their parts. Finished felt-tipped or porous-tipped whiteboard markers fall within 9608 20 00 00, carrying 2% duty from China. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for finished markers.

Separate porous marker tips without an internal canal under 9608 91 00 20 have a 0.00 % autonomous suspension. Its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these products. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to finished markers, mixed writing-instrument sets and other parts; the separate porous-tip line lists an export control only. CITES specimens need an import permit. Confirm the requirement for the actual materials from China with your customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code separately for finished markers, loose tips, caps and mixed writing-instrument sets. A pack containing only whiteboard markers should not be treated as a mixed writing-instrument set merely because it contains different colours. See the pens and markers guide for the wider heading.

Specify dry-wipe ink and the board surface

Specify dry-wipe ink, colours, bullet or chisel tip, line width, barrel material, cap fit and pack format. Name the intended whiteboard surfaces and approve samples on those surfaces. Agree how to assess erasure after the writing has remained on the board, and how to test restarting after the cap has been removed.

Ask for cap safety evidence against ISO 11540, as covered in the published pens guide. Keep the approved ink, nib and cap samples so production substitutions can be checked.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of boxed whiteboard markers for a stationery business under 9608 20 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,700. Duty at 2% is £74. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,774, so it is £754.80. Import taxes total £828.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £74 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Writing: check colour, line width, ink flow and nib shape against the approved sample; test each supplied colour on the intended board.

Erasure: check dry wiping after the agreed dwell period, recording staining, smearing and residue on each board surface.

Caps and leakage: check cap retention, sealing and cap safety evidence; store samples upright and point-down, then check leakage and restarting.

Print and packing: check colour names, dry-wipe description, logo adhesion, pack contents and carton counts. Include these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Permanent ink supplied as dry-wipe ink can leave a board stained. A marker that wipes clean immediately may leave ghosting after the writing remains on the board. Loose caps let tips dry out, while soft nibs flatten and change the line width.

Keep an approved board panel and marker sample for comparison. Investigate changes to the ink, nib or cap before accepting replacement stock, and check arrival samples before distributing the shipment.

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.