Sourcing ceramic coving tiles from China

4% duty plus anti-dumping duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 6907 covers ceramic tiles, mosaics and finishing ceramics. For shaped coving, check finishing ceramics under 6907 40 00 00. The table also includes matching flat tiles, classified by water absorption. Confirm the actual profile, material and use through our commodity code guide; see ceramic and porcelain tiles for the wider heading.

The supplied tariff facts show 4% duty and 69.70% residual anti-dumping duty on every listed line, with no suspension or countervailing duty recorded. The published tile guide records named-exporter rates from 13.90% to 36.50%, conditional on the required invoice. Confirm the exporter's additional code and applicable rate before ordering. Do not assume a large-format exclusion applies to curved coving. Include anti-dumping duty when using the import duty and VAT guide.

The tariff attaches import waste control, export waste control and a cultural-object export licence entry. Confirm their relevance with your customs broker, particularly for reclaimed goods or scrap. For waste from China entering England under notification controls, shipment requires consent from the Environment Agency and other competent authorities involved. Cultural-object licensing concerns exports from Great Britain; confirm any relevant export requirements before returning reclaimed pieces overseas.

Specify the coving profile and complete corner set

State whether the coving forms a floor-to-wall junction or another internal angle. Supply a cross-section drawing showing the curve, height, projection, thickness, fixing faces and exposed glazed edges. Specify internal and external corners, stop ends, handed pieces and the quantities of each. Approve an assembled sample with the adjoining flat tiles and intended joint width.

Specify ceramic body, water absorption, glaze colour and gloss, shade range, dimensional tolerances and resistance to the intended cleaning products. Ask for the manufacturer's declaration of performance and product marking under the construction product rules described in the published tile guide. Check that the documentation covers the supplied coving and intended use. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain without an additional UKCA marking.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative stock order for a small tile merchant: palletised ceramic coving with matching corners; anti-dumping duty must also be included under 6907 40 00 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,000. Duty at 4% is £920. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,920, so it is £4,784. Import taxes total £5,704; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £920 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Profile and fit: compare sampled cross-sections with the approved drawing, assemble straight runs and corners, and check fixing faces, joint alignment and rocking before shipment and again on arrival.

Glaze and shade: compare coving, corners and adjoining tiles in daylight; check the exposed curve and edges for pinholes, crazing, bare patches and colour changes.

Corner assortment: check internal corners, external corners, stop ends and handed pieces against the packing list; confirm carton labels distinguish profiles and shade batches.

Packing and damage: check separators protect projecting edges and corners, pallets restrain movement, and sampled cartons contain no chipped lips or cracked curves. Record arrival damage before distributing stock.

What goes wrong

A matching colour name does not ensure coving and flat tiles match when assembled. Different glaze batches, inconsistent curve profiles and incorrect corner pieces leave visible steps or awkward joints. Approve the complete junction assembly, retain the sample and inspect pieces from different cartons using the quality inspection guide.

Thin projecting edges can chip while cartons remain intact. Missing stop ends or the wrong handed corners can prevent installation even when straight lengths pass inspection. Another costly error is budgeting only for ordinary duty and omitting anti-dumping duty. Check packing, the complete component schedule and the exporter's duty position before approving dispatch.

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.