Sourcing braided rugs from China
Braided rugs from China classified under heading 5705 pay a flat 8% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Consumer rugs must be safe, and fibre content must be labelled; confirm with Trading Standards which parts of the rug the declaration should cover. Specify braid material, joining stitches and floor grip before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources braided rugs.
A flat 8% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5705 covers other carpets and textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. Its braided-rug lines distinguish textile material and hand-made manufacture. All supplied lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no duty suspension recorded.
The other-textile lines attach cat and dog fur import controls; rugs containing such fur cannot be imported. Codes 5705 00 80 91 and 5705 00 80 99 also attach CITES import controls. For CITES-listed material, confirm the applicable permit requirement with your customs broker before shipment. Obtain the material identity from the factory rather than relying on a description such as natural fibre.
The tariff also records cultural-object export licensing and, on relevant lines, CITES and cat and dog fur export controls. Ask your broker to confirm their relevance if re-exporting. Confirm the commodity code from the material and manufacturing method. The wider rugs guide covers other products within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made braided rugs of man-made textile materials | 5705 00 30 10 | 8% | None |
| Other braided rugs of man-made textile materials | 5705 00 30 90 | 8% | None |
| Hand-made braided rugs of other textiles, excluding the separate sisal line | 5705 00 80 91 | 8% | None |
| Other braided rugs of other textiles, excluding the separate sisal line | 5705 00 80 99 | 8% | None |
Specify the braid and how it is joined
Describe a rug made from textile braids joined into the finished shape. Specify the fibre composition of the visible braid, any concealed filling, braid width, thickness, shape, finished dimensions and colour sequence. Agree joining thread, stitch coverage, the treatment of braid ends and whether the rug has a backing. Keep an approved sample showing the underside and outer edge.
Consumer rugs sold in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005; confirm the applicable general product safety rules with the relevant authority before selling in Northern Ireland. Fibre labelling must show fibre content; ask Trading Standards to confirm how this applies to the use surface. Agree care instructions that match the construction, and test any anti-slip claim on the intended flooring. Use testing and certification support to agree checks for the actual rug.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business wholesale shipment of compact polyester braided rugs under 5705 00 30 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £34,000. Duty at 8% is £2,720. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £36,720, so it is £7,344. Import taxes total £10,064; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,720 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Braids and joins: pull adjacent braids apart gently and check for skipped stitches, opening seams, exposed filling and loose braid ends.
Shape and flatness: unpack and lay rugs flat before measuring; check oval symmetry, distorted outlines, raised joins and curling edges against the approved sample.
Colour and care: check damp and dry rubbing for colour transfer, then follow the agreed care method and examine shrinkage, braid distortion and seam opening.
Floor contact and labels: check grip and floor marking on the intended surface; compare fibre labels, colourways, dimensions and care instructions with the approved specification.
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What goes wrong
Uneven braid tension can produce a rug that cups or ripples instead of lying flat. Sparse joining stitches allow gaps to open between braids, while poorly secured ends unravel at the edge. A factory can reproduce the colour pattern while changing the braid filling or thickness, so inspect the construction as well as the face.
Tightly folded packing can hide distortion until unpacking. Moisture can reveal colour bleeding between neighbouring braids, and cleaning can shrink the joining thread differently from the braid. Inspect unpacked rugs and repeat the agreed care check on production samples 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 braided rugs from China?
The supplied heading 5705 lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or duty suspension recorded.
Are braided rugs and woven rugs classified together?
Do not classify by appearance alone. This guide covers braided rugs within heading 5705. Give your broker the fibre details, construction photographs and manufacturing method to confirm the code.
What fibre label does a braided rug need?
The label must state fibre content. Ask Trading Standards to confirm which parts of the rug the declaration should cover and which fibre names to use. Check the visible braid composition rather than copying a supplier's general material description.
Why does a braided rug curl or come apart?
Uneven braid tension can cause curling or ripples. Skipped joining stitches and unsecured braid ends can cause separation. Check flatness, seam strength and the result of the agreed care method.