Sourcing fishing seine nets from China
Fishing seine nets from China carry a flat 8% UK duty under heading 5608, with no trade remedies listed in the supplied tariff record. Match the net to its intended fishery: using nets in England's inland waters requires written permission. Specify mesh, rigging and strength before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources fishing seine nets.
A flat 8% duty on seine nets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5608 covers knotted netting and made-up fishing nets of textile materials. Seine nets made from man-made twine, cordage or rope fall within 5608 11 20 00; other man-made fishing nets have a separate line. The table also includes knotted replacement netting and nets of other textile materials.
Every line in the supplied heading record carries 8% duty for goods from China. The record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. These are the recorded tariff measures; agree the fishing application separately before commissioning the net.
Give your customs broker the fibre composition, construction details and photographs showing whether the shipment is a finished fishing net or netting for assembly. Confirm the commodity code. For the wider fishing-net category, see our commercial fishing trawl nets guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made-up seine fishing nets of man-made twine, cordage or rope | 5608 11 20 00 | 8% | None |
| Other made-up seine fishing nets of man-made textile materials | 5608 11 80 00 | 8% | None |
| Knotted man-made netting for making or repairing seine nets | 5608 19 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Seine fishing nets of other textile materials | 5608 90 00 90 | 8% | None |
Specify the seine design and rigging
State whether you need a beach seine, purse seine or another seine design. Provide a drawing showing wings, central panel or bag, net depth, headline, footrope and attachment points. Specify fibre, twine construction, knot type, mesh measurement method and hanging ratio. For a purse seine, include the purse line, rings and their attachment details.
Agree float buoyancy, sinker material and distribution, rope construction, joining method and repair materials. Specify twine and knot breaking force, with the fishing-netting method described in ISO 1805, and agree weathering evidence for outdoor use. UK REACH generally applies to substances in articles; obtain dye and treatment details to assess applicable chemical obligations.
Baseline mesh sizes apply to nets and trawls in the North Sea and North Western Waters. Ask the operator to confirm the requirements for the intended fishery before approving the drawing. For inland waters in England, fishing with nets requires written permission. Keep the operator's intended use alongside the approved specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 8 made-up beach seine nets under 5608 11 20 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,200. Duty at 8% is £1,296. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,496, so it is £3,499.20. Import taxes total £4,795.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,296 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Mesh and dimensions: measure sampled meshes using the agreed method and condition, check panel dimensions and net depth, and compare the hanging ratio with the approved drawing.
Strength and seams: test twine and knot breaking force against the agreed values; inspect panel joins, selvedges and rope attachments for loose knots, missed stitches and uneven tension.
Rigging: check float and sinker distribution, rope lengths and attachment positions. On purse seines, check rings for rough edges and run the purse line through them to identify snagging.
Arrival condition: unpack and spread sampled nets, check for cuts, abrasion, dampness and tangled rigging, and match bundle identification to the drawing and inspection record. Use our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A net can match the overall dimensions yet have the wrong mesh measurement or hanging ratio. That changes its working shape. Weak knots, uneven panel joins and poorly secured sinkers can fail under hauling loads; rough purse rings can abrade the closing line. Check a fully rigged sample against the drawing before accepting bulk production.
A generic fishing-net description leaves the factory guessing about buoyancy, sinking behaviour and panel layout. Record the design, measurement method and agreed strength values in the order. Keep test results tied to the supplied batch, and check arrival damage before putting the net into service.
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 seine nets from China?
The supplied UK Trade Tariff record, read on 1 October 2026, shows 8% duty across heading 5608, with no listed trade remedies or suspensions.
Which commodity code covers a finished synthetic seine net?
Made-up fishing nets of man-made twine, cordage or rope are listed under 5608 11 20 00. Give your broker the material and construction details before confirming the code.
Can I use an imported seine net in an English lake?
Fishing with nets in inland waters in England requires written permission. Confirm the intended site and use before ordering.
What should I specify for a purse seine?
Specify the panel layout, mesh measurement, hanging ratio, twine strength, floats, sinkers, purse rings and closing line. Approve a rigged sample and check rings for snagging and abrasion.