Sourcing Ceramic Paving Flags from China
Ceramic paving flags from China carry 4% UK duty across the absorption groups, plus 69.70% residual anti-dumping duty unless an exporter rate or exclusion applies. Confirm declaration of performance and marking requirements with the relevant construction-products authority. Check frost resistance and wet slip performance. Cambridge China Bridge sources ceramic paving flags.
4% duty plus anti-dumping checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 November 2026, heading 6907 covers ceramic flags and paving tiles, alongside other tiles, mosaics and finishing ceramics. Paving flags are divided by water absorption; matching finishing pieces have a separate line. Confirm the absorption result and product description using our commodity code guide. See ceramic and porcelain tiles for the wider heading.
The listed lines carry 4% duty from China and 69.70% residual anti-dumping duty, with no listed suspensions or countervailing duty. Named exporter rates require the prescribed invoice. The published tiles guide records an exclusion until 24 November 2027 for individual tiles with a largest face over 0.36 square metres or an edge longer than 600 mm, unless face relief exceeds 3 mm. Confirm eligibility before ordering; thickness alone does not establish that size exclusion.
The tariff attaches import waste control, export waste control and a DCMS export licence entry. For waste imports into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. If buying waste from China, confirm the remaining requirements with your customs broker. Ask the broker to confirm the relevance of the export entries to any planned return shipment.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic paving flags with water absorption not exceeding 0.5% | 6907 21 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Ceramic paving flags with water absorption over 0.5% but not exceeding 10% | 6907 22 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Ceramic paving flags with water absorption over 10% | 6907 23 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Finishing ceramics supplied as matching paving edge pieces | 6907 40 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
Specify paving flags for their installation
State the intended installation: bonded paving, loose laying or raised supports. Agree length, width, thickness, edge profile, flatness, water absorption, breaking strength, frost resistance and wet slip performance for the actual finish. Ask the factory to identify which installation its performance evidence supports. Approve the shade range, surface texture and matching edge pieces together.
Confirm with the relevant construction-products authority which requirements apply to the manufacturer's declaration of performance and product marking for the paving flags. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain. Match the declaration and test reports to the paving flag, finish and intended use you are buying.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative container order of ceramic paving flags under 6907 21 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
Dimensions: measure sampled flags against the agreed tolerances and trial-lay them to reveal bowing, uneven joints and raised edges.
Outdoor performance: check batch evidence for water absorption, breaking strength and frost resistance, plus wet slip results for the ordered surface finish.
Shade and surface: compare flags from different pallets in daylight with the approved sample; inspect texture, glaze coverage, chips and cracks.
Packing and arrival: check separators, corner protection, strapping and pallet stability before loading; record broken flags and damaged packaging when unloading.
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What goes wrong
A paving flag sold as suitable for outdoors may arrive with evidence for a different finish or installation. Bowed flags leave uneven joints, mixed firing batches create visible shade changes, and unsupported corners chip during transport. Check the actual production batch rather than relying only on a showroom sample.
Duty estimates also fail when buyers overlook anti-dumping duty or assume every paving flag qualifies for the large-format exclusion. Confirm the exporter, invoice and exact face dimensions before agreeing the landed cost. Use our quality inspection guide to turn the approved specification into checks before 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 ceramic paving flags from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% duty across the absorption groups, plus 69.70% residual anti-dumping duty. An exporter-specific rate or qualifying size exclusion may change the anti-dumping amount.
Are large ceramic paving flags exempt from anti-dumping duty?
The published tiles guide records an exclusion until 24 November 2027 for faces over 0.36 square metres or an edge over 600 mm, unless face relief exceeds 3 mm. Confirm the exact product with your broker.
What should I ask for before buying outdoor ceramic paving flags?
Ask for water absorption, breaking strength, frost resistance and wet slip results for the actual finish, plus the declaration of performance. Match the evidence to your intended installation.
How do I check ceramic paving flags when they arrive?
Photograph packing damage, count breakages, compare shade across pallets, measure sampled flags and trial-lay them. Record cracks, chipped corners, bowing and differences from the approved sample.