Sourcing fishing gill nets from China
Fishing gill nets from China under heading 5608 carry a flat 8% UK duty, with no listed trade remedies. Specify mesh size for the intended fishery: baseline mesh rules apply in the North Sea and North Western Waters, alongside local static-gear requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources fishing gill nets.
Flat 8% duty on fishing gill nets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5608 covers knotted textile netting and made-up fishing nets. Gill nets are within this product family. The table includes finished nets and knotted netting bought for manufacture; distinguish these in the order and customs description.
All lines in the supplied tariff snapshot carry 8% duty for goods from China. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Customs classification does not establish suitability for a particular fishery: baseline mesh sizes apply in the North Sea and North Western Waters, and static fishers should check local gear-design and visibility bylaws.
Give your customs broker the fibre composition, yarn construction, photographs and whether the shipment contains netting or made-up fishing nets. Confirm the commodity code before shipment. For the wider heading, see our commercial fishing trawl nets guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made-up gill nets of man-made textile twine, cordage or rope | 5608 11 20 00 | 8% | None |
| Other made-up gill nets of man-made textile materials | 5608 11 80 00 | 8% | None |
| Knotted man-made textile netting for making gill nets | 5608 19 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Gill nets of other textile materials | 5608 90 00 90 | 8% | None |
Specify mesh, yarn and gill-net rigging
State the target species and intended fishing area before agreeing the mesh. Specify monofilament or multifilament yarn, fibre, yarn diameter, knot construction, colour and stretched mesh measurement. Define the measurement method and sample condition so the factory and inspector compare the same property.
Specify netting length, depth in meshes, finished hung dimensions and hanging ratio. For rigged nets, list headline and footrope materials, float spacing, weighting, selvedges and end connections. Agree yarn and knot breaking-force tests and outdoor weathering evidence. Keep an approved sample for comparison; avoid a generic claim that the net suits every UK fishery.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 made-up multifilament gill-net panels, illustrative order under 5608 11 20 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,600. Duty at 8% is £1,568. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,168, so it is £4,233.60. Import taxes total £5,801.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,568 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Mesh and dimensions: measure sampled panels using the agreed method; compare mesh consistency, depth and finished hung length with the order.
Yarn and knots: check fibre identification, diameter and construction against the approved sample; test yarn and knot breaking force and look for slipping knots or damaged filaments.
Rigging: check float placement, footrope weighting, hanging ratio, selvedge stitching and end connections; compare a rigged sample with the approved arrangement.
Packing and identification: check panel counts, batch identification, dry packaging and protection against snagging. Record findings in the inspection report.
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What goes wrong
A factory quotes mesh opening while the buyer expects stretched mesh, or supplies the right netting but hangs it differently. The result is a net with the wrong shape or fishing characteristics. Weak yarn, slipping knots, uneven weighting and poor edge stitching can also make an apparently matching sample unsuitable.
Agree measurement and rigging details before production, then inspect production panels rather than relying on the sales sample. Check the intended fishery's mesh rules and local static-gear requirements before advertising suitability; a duty-paid shipment can still be the wrong net for the customer's fishing area.
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 fishing gill nets from China?
The supplied UK Trade Tariff snapshot shows 8% on every heading 5608 line, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Can I use the same gill net in every UK fishing area?
Check the intended fishery first. Baseline mesh sizes apply in the North Sea and North Western Waters, and local bylaws can address static-gear design and visibility.
What should I specify when ordering gill nets?
Specify fibre, monofilament or multifilament construction, yarn diameter, stretched mesh, depth, hung dimensions, hanging ratio and any floats, weighting or ropes.
How do I check gill-net strength?
Test yarn and knot breaking force on production samples using the agreed method. Compare knot slippage, filament damage and edge attachments with the approved sample.