Shearling Jacket HS Code: Real, Faux and Shearling-Lined Leather Jackets from India (2026)
Most genuine shearling jackets imported from India are classified under HS 4303.10 as apparel of furskin, not under heading 4203 for leather garments, because customs treat sheepskin tanned with the wool on as fur. A leather jacket fully lined with shearling also moves to 4303, while a shearling collar used only as trim usually stays in 4203.
This guide, updated November 2026, explains the shearling jacket HS code decision for overseas brands sourcing from India: which construction lands in which heading, what duty it triggers in Canada, the US, the EU and Australia, how faux shearling is treated, and which labels US buyers need.
Key Takeaways (Updated November 2026)
Customs define furskin as any hide or skin tanned or dressed with the hair or wool on, so genuine shearling is fur, not leather, for tariff purposes.
Under Chapter 43 Note 4, a jacket lined with furskin, or with furskin on the outside beyond mere trimming, is classified in heading 4303.
Canada's 2026 tariff charges 8% MFN on shearling jackets, 14% on leather garments lined with furskin and 15.5% on artificial fur.
The US general rate for 4303.10.00 is 4% before any additional tariffs on Indian goods; the EU third-country rate is 3.7%.
Knitted or woven sherpa-style faux shearling is not artificial fur in tariff terms; it is classified as a textile.
What is the HS code for a shearling jacket?
The usual answer is subheading 4303.10: articles of apparel and clothing accessories of furskin. Chapter 43 Note 1 of the Harmonized System, reproduced in Canada's 2026 Customs Tariff, applies the word furskin to the skins of all animals tanned or dressed with the hair or wool on, and shearling is sheepskin or lambskin tanned with its wool left on.
The digits after 4303.10 vary by market. The US uses 4303.10.00, and US Customs lists its 2016 ruling N277695 on a shearling coat from India among the rulings for subheading 4303.10.00.60. Canada splits the line further, with 4303.10.20 for leather garments lined with furskin and 4303.10.90.30 for other overcoats and jackets.
Does a shearling collar or lining change a leather jacket's HS code?
A full lining usually does; a collar usually does not. Chapter 43 Note 4 moves apparel into heading 4303 when it is lined with furskin, or when furskin is attached on the outside other than as mere trimming.
So a leather biker or bomber with a full shearling lining becomes a furskin garment even though its shell is leather. A sewn-on or detachable shearling collar, cuffs or a narrow facing are normally treated as trimming, so the jacket stays a leather garment under 4203. Large shearling yokes or panels are harder to call: in CBP protest decision 953254, US Customs held that the fur must amount to more than mere trimming before heading 4303 applies. If a style sits near that line, ask your customs broker for a binding ruling before you place bulk.
How common shearling constructions are classified
Jacket construction | Likely heading | Why | Canada MFN (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
Genuine shearling as the main body | 4303.10 | Note 1: shearling is furskin | 8% (4303.10.90.30) |
Leather jacket fully lined with shearling | 4303.10 | Note 4: lined with furskin | 14% (4303.10.20) |
Leather jacket with shearling collar or cuffs only | 4203.10 | Fur is mere trimming | 13% (leather apparel) |
Faux fur of fibres sewn or glued onto a backing | 4304 | Note 5: artificial fur | 15.5% |
Knitted or woven sherpa-style pile jacket | Textile apparel (Ch. 61 or 62) | Note 5 excludes knitted and woven imitations | Textile rate; check |
How much duty does a shearling jacket from India pay in 2026?
It depends on the market and the heading, and the gap between headings can be several percentage points. As of November 2026:
Canada: India receives MFN rates, so shearling jackets pay 8%, leather garments lined with furskin 14% and artificial fur 15.5% under the CBSA 2026 tariff. Unlined leather jackets under 4203.10 pay 13%, as our guide to leather bomber jackets for Canada explains, so a full sheepskin jacket can pay five points less duty than a plain leather one.
United States: the general rate for 4303.10.00 is 4%. Indian goods may also face additional tariffs that changed several times in 2026, so check the total on the day of entry; our 2026 US tariff guide for leather from India shows how to do this.
European Union: furskin apparel carries a 3.7% third-country duty. The India–EU FTA was concluded in January 2026 and the Council for Leather Exports expects implementation from next year, so the standard rate applies until then.
Australia: the general rate for 4303.10.00 is 5%, and the Australian Border Force tariff states that originating goods under a free trade agreement are free unless indicated, so jackets meeting AI-ECTA origin rules can enter at zero.
United Kingdom: check the 4303 line and the CETA origin rules together; our UK CETA leather jacket guide covers the origin test and paperwork.
Is faux shearling classified as artificial fur?
Only some of it. Chapter 43 Note 5 defines artificial fur as wool, hair or other fibres gummed or sewn onto leather, woven fabric or another backing, and excludes imitation furskins made by weaving or knitting, which generally fall under headings 58.01 or 60.01.
Most sherpa-style faux shearling is a knitted or woven pile fabric, so a jacket made from it is a textile garment in Chapter 61 or 62, with textile duty rates and fibre-content labelling. A faux fur made by attaching fibres to a backing goes to 4304, which carries 15.5% MFN in Canada against 8% for genuine shearling jackets. Faux is therefore not automatically cheaper at the border.
In the EU, a textile jacket that includes leather or genuine shearling trims must state "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin" under Article 12 of the EU Textile Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011. Our leather jacket lining guide covers the fibre labels for linings.
What labels does a shearling jacket need in the US?
Genuine shearling is a fur product under US law, so the Fur Products Labeling Act applies. The FTC's compliance guide requires the animal name from the Fur Products Name Guide, the name or RN of the responsible company, and the country where the animal was raised, shown as Fur Origin followed by the country.
That fur origin can differ from where the jacket was made: skins from animals raised outside India and sewn into a jacket in Jalandhar carry the animals' country on the fur label. Textile parts such as a polyester lining still need fibre content. California's ban on new fur products, operative since January 2023, excludes sheepskin with the hair attached, according to an Intertek regulatory bulletin, so genuine shearling jackets can still be sold there.
What should a shearling jacket tech pack say for customs?
Write the construction details your broker needs to confirm the code, so the commercial invoice, packing list and labels all match:
Genuine or faux shearling, the species for genuine skins, and whether faux pile is knitted, woven or fibres on a backing.
Where the shearling sits: main body, full lining, partial lining, collar or cuffs.
Shell leather type and finish, plus the fibre content of any textile lining.
The country where the animals were raised, for the US Fur Origin line.
The HS code your broker has confirmed for each style.
Our checklist on how to write a leather tech pack for an Indian factory covers the rest of the brief.
How Sanwas International works with brands on shearling styles
We develop leather jackets to brand specifications with MOQs under 500 units per style. A first sample can be ready in as little as 72 hours once the pattern and materials are fixed, bulk runs from 30 days after approval, and orders pass AQL inspection before export to Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Australia. Complimentary first samples apply to manufactured products, including jackets. Genuine shearling in a specific colour can take longer to source, so confirm availability at enquiry; for collar-only styles, see our guide to specifying shearling-collar leather jackets. Request a quote for your shearling or shearling-lined jacket range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What HS code should I use for a sheepskin shearling jacket from India?
Use subheading 4303.10, apparel of furskin, because shearling is sheepskin tanned with the wool on. The national digits differ: the US uses 4303.10.00, while Canada uses 4303.10.90.30 for jackets and 4303.10.20 for leather garments lined with furskin. Confirm the full code with your customs broker before shipping.
Is a leather jacket with a shearling collar classified as fur or leather?
Usually leather. Under Chapter 43 Note 4, furskin attached on the outside as mere trimming, such as a collar or cuffs, does not move the garment into heading 4303, so it stays under 4203. A full shearling lining or a large shearling panel can change that, so check borderline designs with a binding ruling.
Does a faux shearling jacket pay less import duty than a real shearling one?
Not necessarily. Knitted or woven sherpa-style pile is classified as a textile garment at textile rates, and faux fur made by attaching fibres to a backing falls under 4304, which pays 15.5% MFN in Canada against 8% for genuine shearling jackets. Compare the exact tariff lines for your market before choosing on duty grounds.
What does a US fur label for a shearling jacket need to show?
Under the Fur Products Labeling Act, the label must show the animal name as listed in the FTC's Fur Products Name Guide, the name or RN of the company responsible, and the country where the animal was raised as the Fur Origin. Textile parts such as the lining also need their fibre content disclosed.
Can I get a sample shearling jacket from an Indian factory before ordering bulk?
Yes. Sanwas International offers complimentary first samples on manufactured products, including jackets, and a first sample can be ready in as little as 72 hours once the pattern and materials are fixed. Genuine shearling in a specific colour may take longer to source, so confirm availability when you enquire.
Developing a Shearling Jacket Range? Request a Quote
Brands, sourcing managers, retailers and importers can share the jacket style, whether the shearling is genuine or faux and where it sits on the garment, the shell leather, target quantity, delivery city or destination country, preferred Incoterm and target delivery date. Sanwas International supplies brands across India and exports worldwide, and complimentary first samples are available on manufactured products such as jackets.
Include these details in your enquiry:
Product category and style (shearling jacket, shearling-lined leather jacket or collar-trim style)
Leather type, finish and colour, plus genuine or faux shearling
Target quantity per style and colour
Delivery city in India or destination country, plus preferred Incoterm
Target delivery date and whether you need a complimentary first sample
Contact Sanwas International
Mob: +91 8728858686
Address: 308 Leather Complex, Kapurthala Road, Jalandhar, Punjab 144002, India
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