Sourcing woven sleeve protectors from China
Woven sleeve protectors from China carry 6% UK duty as finished clothing accessories; heading 6217 ranges from 6% to 12% when parts are included. Sleeve protectors have a fibre-labelling exemption, while sleeves supplied as personal protective equipment must meet essential health and safety requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven sleeve protectors.
Finished sleeve protectors: 6% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 6217 covers other made-up clothing accessories and their parts. Finished woven sleeve protectors carry 6% duty from China, whether hand-made or other; parts carry 12%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The table separates fabric variants sharing the same accessory code.
The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Products containing cat or dog fur are banned from import. For listed-species trims, check CITES permit requirements with APHA and your broker. The tariff also attaches a torture-and-repression import prohibition to the accessory lines; goods on the prohibited list cannot be imported. For seal products, confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker before ordering.
Ask your broker to confirm the commodity code against a sample, fabric construction and intended use, especially for separate parts or coated designs. Knitted accessories fall under heading 6117. See the woven textile armbands guide for the wider heading and the import duty and VAT guide for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven cotton sleeve protectors, other than hand-made | 6217 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Hand-made woven sleeve protectors | 6217 10 00 10 | 6% | None |
| Parts of woven sleeve protectors, subject to classification | 6217 90 00 00 | 12% | None |
Specify coverage, cuffs and washing
State whether the sleeve covers clothing during desk work, packing or cleaning. Agree fibre composition, weave, fabric weight, sleeve length, upper-arm and wrist openings, elastic construction, seam finish and colour. Approve a sample worn over the clothing your staff actually use, checking coverage when reaching and bending.
Confirm with Trading Standards whether the sleeve protectors are exempt from mandatory fibre labelling; do not rely solely on the description in our published textile accessories guide. Still agree accurate composition information and care instructions with the factory. Ask HSE to confirm any applicable REACH restrictions on azo dyes in relevant skin-contact textile parts.
For sleeves supplied as personal protective equipment, essential health and safety requirements apply. If the intended use involves cuts, heat or chemicals, agree the protective specification and supporting evidence before ordering. Discuss the intended application through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 pairs of woven sleeve protectors under 6217 10 00 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 6% is £408. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,208, so it is £1,441.60. Import taxes total £1,849.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £408 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: check sleeve length and both openings against the approved size chart, then wear samples over work clothing to check slipping and tightness.
Elastic and seams: stretch the cuffs, check recovery, examine elastic joins and pull gently at seams for broken stitches, skipped stitches and fraying.
Fabric and washing: compare weave and colour with the approved sample; wash and dry as agreed, then check shrinkage, colour transfer and cuff recovery.
Packing: check matched pairs, size identification, agreed care information and dry, clean fabric. Record defects using the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
An approved sleeve can fit bare arms but bind over a shirt or jacket. Weak elastic lets it slide down; tight cuffs leave pressure marks. Unfinished seam allowances fray, colours transfer onto clothing and washing shortens the sleeve or weakens cuff recovery.
A factory may substitute knitted fabric, change the elastic or describe an ordinary clothing cover as protective equipment. Keep the approved construction and intended use in the purchase specification, compare production samples with it, and investigate any protective claim before accepting 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on woven sleeve protectors from China?
Finished woven sleeve protectors carry 6% duty under the accessory lines. Separately classified parts carry 12%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do woven sleeve protectors need fibre labels?
Confirm with Trading Standards whether the sleeve protectors qualify for an exemption from mandatory fibre labelling under the textile labelling rules. Agree accurate composition information and practical care instructions with the supplier.
Can I use woven sleeve protectors for industrial protection?
Confirm the hazard and protective specification first. Sleeves supplied as personal protective equipment must meet essential health and safety requirements; ordinary fabric and cuff checks do not establish protection.
What should I check in a sleeve protector sample?
Wear it over the intended clothing, check coverage and cuff comfort, stretch the elastic and inspect seams. Wash and dry it as agreed, then check fit, colour transfer and elastic recovery again.