Sourcing woven cashmere shawls from China
Woven cashmere shawls from China carry a flat 8% UK duty across the relevant lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Fibre labels must use permitted names and cashmere claims must be true, so test bulk fabric before approving labels. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven cashmere shawls.
A flat 8% duty on woven cashmere shawls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6214 covers shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and similar articles that are not knitted. Cashmere falls within wool or fine animal hair, with separate hand-made and other lines. The supplied tariff records show 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.
The tariff attaches CITES and cat/dog fur and seal-product controls to the cashmere lines. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported or exported. Seal products may enter Great Britain for sale only under the Inuit and other indigenous communities’ exemption. For a China shipment containing CITES-listed material, have your customs broker confirm the required permits and documents before shipping. Ask the broker to confirm any seal-product attestation before ordering trims.
Confirm the commodity code using the actual fibre composition, woven construction and manufacturing method. The silk rows are conditional alternatives for silk/cashmere blends whose classification has been confirmed as silk; they are not pure-cashmere codes. For the wider heading, see silk neckerchiefs.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashmere or wool/cashmere woven shawls, hand-made | 6214 20 00 10 | 8% | None |
| Cashmere or wool/cashmere woven shawls, other | 6214 20 00 90 | 8% | None |
| Silk/cashmere woven shawls, hand-made, if confirmed in the silk category | 6214 10 00 10 | 8% | None |
| Silk/cashmere woven shawls, other, if confirmed in the silk category | 6214 10 00 90 | 8% | None |
Specify the cashmere content and woven finish
Write down whether the shawl is pure cashmere or a blend, naming every fibre and its agreed proportion. Specify finished length and width, whether measurements include the fringe, fabric weight, weave, colour references, brushed finish and edge construction. Keep an approved sample showing the intended drape and surface.
Fibre composition must be labelled, and a cashmere claim must be true. Confirm the fibre names to use with Trading Standards. Ask a specialist laboratory to identify cashmere in bulk fabric and determine the blend composition before printing labels. Agree pilling, colour fastness and dimensional-change acceptance criteria with the factory. Arrange testing against the actual fabric and colourways.
UK importers are responsible for the safety of consumer products they supply. Review the intended use and any added trims before production, and keep the approved specification and test reports with the order records.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 woven wool/cashmere shawls under 6214 20 00 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,500. Duty at 8% is £520. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,020, so it is £1,404. Import taxes total £1,924; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £520 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fibre and labels: compare bulk-fabric analysis and specialist cashmere identification with the ordered composition, sewn label and packaging claims.
Size and weight: measure the finished body and fringe separately, weigh samples consistently and compare drape and surface finish with the approved sample.
Colour and surface: check shade variation, rubbing and damp colour transfer, pilling, loose fibre shedding, snags and uneven brushing.
Edges and arrival condition: check fringe attachment, unravelled selvedges, holes, loose threads, dampness and mould before accepting stock. Use the inspection guide to agree how results are recorded.
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What goes wrong
A soft handle does not establish cashmere content. Wool, acrylic or other blends can arrive carrying a pure-cashmere claim, while the supplier’s report may cover the sample rather than bulk production. Identify the tested fabric batch and settle label wording after the bulk results.
Loose fringes unravel, brushed surfaces shed or pill, and inconsistent finishing changes the shawl’s size and drape. Dye can transfer onto clothing when damp. Agree these checks before production and compare delivered stock with the approved sample rather than photographs alone.
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 woven cashmere shawls from China?
The supplied tariff records show 8% on both wool or fine animal hair lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
How can I check whether a shawl is really cashmere?
Use specialist fibre identification and composition testing on bulk fabric. Compare the results with the order and label; softness alone does not establish cashmere content.
What must a cashmere shawl label show?
Fibre composition must be labelled; confirm the fibre names to use with Trading Standards. The cashmere claim must match the fabric; do not label a blend as pure cashmere.
Does every cashmere shawl need a CITES permit?
The tariff attaches a CITES control to the cashmere lines. Ask your customs broker to check the actual species and materials and confirm whether permits or other documents are required.