Sourcing gabion baskets from China

Duty on gabion basket mesh

Heading 7314 covers iron or steel wire cloth, grill, netting and fencing, plus expanded metal. For gabion baskets, distinguish welded mesh from non-welded netting and identify the coating. The selected lines are classification candidates, not a ruling for every assembled basket or kit.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, all lines in the supplied heading data carry 0% duty for goods from China. The data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control.

Give your customs broker the basket drawings, wire dimensions, mesh construction, coating and contents of the shipment. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. See wire mesh and fencing for the wider heading.

Specify the basket and its intended use

State whether the basket uses welded panels or twisted-wire netting. Specify assembled dimensions, mesh openings, steel wire diameter before coating, edge construction, lids, diaphragms and the coating system. List lacing wire, spirals, clips and internal braces separately, with an assembly drawing and packing list.

Match the mesh openings to the proposed stone fill. For retaining work, have the project designer agree the basket specification, bracing and installation details. Ask the supplier for coating measurements and test reports tied to the material supplied, rather than accepting a photograph of a finished basket.

For construction use, check whether a designated standard applies and whether a declaration of performance is needed for the product and use. Products not covered or not fully covered by a designated standard may have a technical assessment route. Establish the applicable documentation before accepting a supplier's CE or UKCA claim.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business order of flat-packed zinc-coated welded gabion baskets under 7314 31 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,000, so it is £2,600. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Wire and mesh: measure steel wire diameter and mesh openings against the drawing; inspect welds or twisted joints, cut edges and loose wire ends.

Coating: compare coating measurements with the agreed specification; inspect weld areas, bends and connectors for bare metal, peeling or damaged plastic.

Assembly: build a sample basket using the supplied connectors; check panel alignment, lid closure, diaphragm positions and internal braces.

Packing and records: count panels and fittings against the packing list; inspect bundles for distortion and rubbing damage; match batch identification to the agreed material and test records.

What goes wrong

A quoted wire diameter can include the plastic coating, leaving less steel than the buyer expected. Weak welds, damaged coatings and mismatched connectors can turn a flat-packed shipment into an assembly problem. Missing diaphragms or braces can also leave baskets different from the approved drawing.

A basket that looks suitable for landscaping may not match a retaining project's specification. Approve an assembled sample and record acceptance criteria before production. Use quality inspection to plan checks on the shipment.

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.