Sourcing cotton lawn fabric from China
Cotton lawn from China under heading 5208 carries 8% UK duty across the ordinary lawn lines, with no anti-dumping duty. Classification depends on cotton content, weight and finish; textile labels must show fibre content. Check shrinkage and shade before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources cotton lawn fabric.
Cotton lawn duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 5208 covers woven fabrics containing at least 85% cotton by weight and weighing not more than 200 g/m². Cotton lawn is a fine plain-weave fabric; the table selects ordinary lawn lines not exceeding 100 g/m². Heavier lawn needs a different weight subdivision within the heading.
The selected Chinese-origin lines carry 8% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control recorded in the supplied tariff snapshot. The heading's 4.00% suspension is attached to unbleached fabric for manufacturing bandages, dressings and medical gauzes, rather than the ordinary lawn lines selected here.
Confirm the commodity code using measured fibre content, finished weight and the actual bleaching, dyeing or printing process. Do not classify from the supplier's word 'lawn' alone. For the wider heading, see cotton voile fabric.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbleached plain-weave lawn, not more than 100 g/m², non-medical | 5208 11 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Bleached plain-weave lawn, not more than 100 g/m², non-medical | 5208 21 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Dyed plain-weave lawn, not more than 100 g/m² | 5208 31 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Lawn woven from different-coloured yarns, not more than 100 g/m² | 5208 41 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Printed plain-weave lawn, not more than 100 g/m², other than hand-printed batik | 5208 51 00 99 | 8% | None |
Specify lawn construction and finish
Specify cotton content, yarn count, warp and weft density, finished weight, usable width and finish. Approve the smooth handle, translucency and drape against a retained sample. For printed lawn, agree the artwork, repeat, colour placement and acceptable show-through; assess a washed sample before approving bulk production.
Textile labels must show fibre content. Garments made from the lawn need fibre composition labelling. Confirm with HSE which UK REACH azo dye restrictions apply to textiles intended for direct and prolonged skin contact. Ask for colourway-specific azo dye test reports and agree washing, rubbing and shrinkage checks with the mill.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10,000 metres of printed cotton lawn, not more than 100 g/m²; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 5208 51 00 99, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,900. Duty at 8% is £1,032. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,932, so it is £2,786.40. Import taxes total £3,818.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,032 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Construction: check fibre content, weight, usable width and thread density against the approved sample and specification.
Shade and print: compare rolls and dye lots, including edge-to-centre shade, print registration, repeat alignment and colour penetration.
Performance: wash representative samples and check shrinkage, distortion, handle and colour transfer against agreed acceptance criteria.
Roll condition: inspect for broken threads, holes, slubs, oil marks and dampness; reconcile roll lengths and lot labels with the packing list. See quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A soft finish can disguise sparse construction until washing, leaving lawn thinner or rougher than the approved sample. Uneven shrinkage distorts garment panels, while shade changes between rolls prevent consistent cutting. Printed lawn can fail through blurred outlines, misregistration or colour rubbing onto adjacent fabric.
Retain an approved washed sample and shade references for each colourway. Inspect bulk rolls before shipment and compare arrival samples with those references before cutting. Keep suspect dye lots separate while the supplier investigates.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cotton lawn from China?
The ordinary cotton lawn lines selected under heading 5208 carry 8% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does cotton lawn have its own commodity code?
No single code covers all lawn. Cotton content, weight, weave and finish determine the subdivision; check the actual fabric rather than its trade name.
What should I test before ordering cotton lawn?
Check fibre content, weight, thread density, shrinkage and washing and rubbing fastness. Compare washed handle and translucency with the approved sample.
Does cotton lawn need fibre labelling?
Textile labels must show fibre content. Check that the declared composition matches the fabric, and arrange fibre composition labelling for garments made from it.