Sourcing women's knitted formal shirts from China
Women's knitted formal shirts from China carry 12% UK duty across the listed materials, with no trade remedies recorded. Confirm knitted construction and fibre composition before choosing the code; fibre content must be labelled. Cambridge China Bridge sources women's knitted formal shirts.
Duty and classification for knitted formal shirts
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 October 2026, heading 6106 covers women's or girls' knitted or crocheted blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses. For women's formal shirts, check the actual fabric construction and shirt features rather than relying on the supplier's description. Woven blouses fall under heading 6206.
All listed lines carry 12% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions are recorded. The wool or fine animal hair and residual other textile material lines have CITES import and export controls attached. CITES permits are required for species covered by the permit rules; ask your customs broker and APHA to confirm the species-specific documents for imports from China and any subsequent export.
Confirm the commodity code against the garment sample, fabric construction and fibre composition. For the related menswear family, see men's knitted formal shirts.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's knitted formal shirts of cotton | 6106 10 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted formal shirts of man-made fibres | 6106 20 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted formal shirts of silk or silk waste | 6106 90 30 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted formal shirts of flax or ramie | 6106 90 50 00 | 12% | None |
Specify bust fit, collar and placket construction
Specify the knit structure, fibre blend, fabric weight, stretch and recovery, opacity and intended wash method. Approve bust shaping, shoulder width, sleeve length, cuff opening and hem length on a fitted sample. Check the shirt while seated and with arms reaching forward, particularly for gaping between buttons.
Agree collar shape, interlining, placket reinforcement, button spacing and buttonhole finish. Use a washed approval sample to settle collar flatness and seam appearance. Fibre content must appear on the label, including fur and other animal parts where present. Agree permitted fibre names and compare the label wording with composition evidence before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 women's cotton knitted formal shirts under 6106 10 00 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure garments from each ordered size against the approved chart; check bust gaping, sleeve movement, cuff closure and hem balance.
Fabric: compare shade across cartons, check pale colours for opacity under shop lighting, and assess stretch recovery and pilling against the approved sample.
Wash performance: compare dimensions before and after the agreed wash; check side-seam twist, collar curl, interlining bubbling and placket rippling.
Make-up and labels: check button security, buttonhole cutting, skipped stitches and reinforcement behind buttons; match fibre labels, size labels and carton contents to the order. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A shirt can fit when standing yet gape across the bust when seated. Stretchy fabric does not compensate for an unsuitable pattern or button placement. Approve movement and seated-fit checks before bulk cutting, using the intended underwear when assessing opacity.
An unstable knit can twist after washing while a stiff interlining makes the placket ripple. Weak reinforcement lets buttons pull through the fabric. Keep a washed reference garment and compare bulk production with it, including collar shape, placket flatness and seam position.
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 women's knitted formal shirts from China?
The supplied tariff data shows 12% duty across all listed materials, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions recorded.
Are knitted and woven women's formal shirts classified together?
No. Women's knitted shirts are covered by heading 6106; woven blouses and shirts fall under heading 6206. Confirm the construction from the fabric and garment sample.
How do I prevent gaping between the buttons?
Approve bust shaping and button placement on a fitted sample. Check it seated and with arms reaching forward; stretch in the fabric alone does not ensure a suitable fit.
What should I check after washing a knitted formal shirt?
Check length and width changes, side-seam twist, collar curl, interlining bubbling and placket rippling. Compare the garment with the approved washed sample.