Sourcing carved agate coasters from China

Carved agate coasters: 2% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 7116 covers articles of pearls and precious or semi-precious stones. Carved agate coasters fit the other stone articles line, 7116 20 80 00, subject to confirmation of the complete product. The table shows product variants sharing this tariff line.

The supplied tariff record gives 2% duty for this line on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed. It attaches a Russia-related restriction on entry into free circulation. Check original origin and dispatch history, and ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement for the Chinese shipment. Buying through China does not settle sanctions questions.

Provide photographs, stone identity, treatment details and the materials of any backing or edging when confirming the commodity code. For the wider heading, see carved agate bookends.

Specify the stone, carving and backing

Specify genuine agate, whether dyed or resin-filled, shape, usable surface, thickness range and acceptable variation in banding. Agree limits for pits, cracks and edge irregularities against approved samples. For engraving, approve the artwork, position, depth and readability on differently coloured stones.

Define a flat underside, rounded contact edges, backing material and adhesive, and individual protective packing. Test samples with the intended cups, condensation and cleaning method. Coasters sold to consumers in Great Britain must be safe in normal and reasonably foreseeable use. Allow for traceability on the product or packaging, where reasonable, using producer details and a product or batch reference.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 carved agate coasters, illustrative order under 7116 20 80 00, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,800. Duty at 2% is £36. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,836, so it is £367.20. Import taxes total £403.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £36 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Stone and colour: compare banding and colour variation with approved samples; check the supplier's treatment declaration and test dyed surfaces for colour transfer with a damp cloth.

Carving and edges: check engraving against the artwork, inspect edge chips and cracks, and feel for sharp points around the rim.

Flatness and backing: place coasters on a flat surface, check for rocking, and inspect pad adhesion and exposed abrasive stone.

Packing and traceability: check individual separation, protection around carved edges, carton condition and producer details with the product or batch reference. Plan checks using our inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A polished face can hide cracks that open during transport. Uneven undersides make cups rock, loose pads expose stone that scratches tables, and dye can transfer onto damp surfaces. Reject sharp chips and separate damaged stock on arrival.

Natural banding makes identical colour matching difficult, while shallow engraving can disappear against pale bands. Agree an acceptable appearance range rather than approving only the most attractive sample. Check packed production pieces as well as loose samples.

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.