Sourcing glass teapots from China

UK duty on glass teapots

Heading 7013 covers table and kitchen glassware, including glass teapots. The selected lines distinguish low-expansion glass, toughened glass and other glass gathered by hand or mechanically. A supplier's borosilicate description alone does not establish the low-expansion classification: ask for material evidence matching the tariff definition.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, all selected lines carried 10% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls: imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. It also lists a cultural-object export licence measure; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance if you later export the goods.

Confirm the commodity code using the glass composition, manufacturing method and complete product specification before shipping. For a ceramic alternative, see stoneware teapots.

Specify the glass, pouring and hot-water use

Specify glass composition, usable and brim capacity, wall thickness, handle attachment, spout shape, lid retention and infuser material. Agree whether the lid stays fitted during pouring and whether replacement lids must fit across production batches. Keep an approved sample with the signed specification.

Food-contact materials must be safe and suitable for their intended use. Ask for evidence covering the actual glass, decoration, infuser and seals under the intended hot-tea conditions. Agree sample tests for filling, pouring, temperature changes and cleaning. Treat hob, microwave and dishwasher suitability as separate claims to verify before putting them on packaging.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 low-expansion glass teapots under 7013 42 00 00, invoiced at £3,200 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,600. Duty at 10% is £560. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,160, so it is £1,232. Import taxes total £1,792; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £560 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Glass and handle: check for cracks, chipped rims, sharp edges, uneven walls and defects around handle joints.

Pouring and fit: fill sampled pots, check drips and handle comfort, and confirm lid retention and infuser seating.

Use evidence: match material records and test reports to the supplied model, decoration and accessories; compare care instructions with the agreed tests.

Arrival packing: open cartons from different positions, check broken spouts and lids, and confirm that dividers prevent glass parts touching. Use the inspection guide to brief the checks.

What goes wrong

A clear pot can look acceptable while having a weak handle joint, a dripping spout or a lid that slips during pouring. Thin spouts and loose infusers can strike adjacent glass during transport. Separate each loose part and inspect packed samples after handling.

Material substitutions can undermine the approved hot-water performance and the proposed commodity code. Specify that changes to glass, decoration or accessories need your approval and renewed checks. Keep failed samples and photographs tied to the shipment so the factory can investigate the cause.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.