Sourcing cotton-linen blend fabrics from China
Other woven fabrics of cotton from China, meaning cotton-rich fabrics with under 85% cotton mixed mainly with fibres other than man-made fibres, such as cotton-linen blends, pay 8% UK duty across heading 5212, with no anti-dumping duty. The tariff separates blends mixed mainly with flax. Buyers check blend ratio, slubs, shrinkage, colour and weight.
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8% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5212 covers other woven fabrics of cotton, split by weight (200 g/m2 or less, and more), by finish, and by whether the cotton is mixed mainly or solely with flax. The lines shown carried 8% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Pure cotton fabrics are covered in our cotton woven fabrics guide and denim and heavy cotton guide, and linen in our linen fabric guide. Blends with man-made fibres are other headings, so confirm the commodity code from a fibre test.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbleached, up to 200 g/m2, mixed mainly with flax | 5212 11 10 90 | 8% | None |
| Dyed, up to 200 g/m2, mixed mainly with flax | 5212 13 10 90 | 8% | None |
| Dyed, up to 200 g/m2, otherwise mixed | 5212 13 90 90 | 8% | None |
| Yarn-dyed, up to 200 g/m2, mixed mainly with flax | 5212 14 10 90 | 8% | None |
| Printed, up to 200 g/m2, mixed mainly with flax, not handloom | 5212 15 10 99 | 8% | None |
| Dyed, over 200 g/m2, mixed mainly with flax | 5212 23 10 90 | 8% | None |
Specifying the fabric
Specify the blend ratio, weight, construction, width, finish (softened, garment-washed, crease-resistant), colour and fastness, and shrinkage. Garments and home textiles sold to consumers need fibre composition labels under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, so the blend must be tested and stated accurately.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 metres of dyed 55/45 linen-cotton fabric under 5212 13 10 90, invoiced at £17,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,400. Duty at 8% is £1,472. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,872, so it is £3,974.40. Import taxes total £5,446.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,472 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fibre: test the blend ratio on samples.
Appearance: check slubs, shade across rolls and weaving faults.
Shrinkage: wash-test and check dimensional change. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Cotton-linen orders fail on blend, shrinkage and shade. The linen share is lower than stated, fabric shrinks more than expected, and rolls vary in shade.
Cambridge China Bridge sources fabrics and yarns for UK brands and makers from small lots, with lab dips and samples approved first; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cotton-linen fabric from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, cotton-linen blends under heading 5212 carried 8% from China.
When is a cotton blend in heading 5212?
When it is cotton-rich but under 85% cotton and mixed mainly with fibres other than man-made fibres, such as linen.
Is polycotton in heading 5212?
No. Cotton mixed mainly with man-made fibres is headings 5210 and 5211.
Does the blend need a label?
Garments and textiles sold to consumers need a fibre composition label stating the blend.