Sourcing hand-hooked rugs from China
Hand-hooked rugs from China classified in heading 5705 pay a flat 8% UK duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Rugs sold to consumers in Great Britain must be safe, and fibre composition must be labelled; confirm with the relevant authority which parts the declaration should cover. Confirm construction before choosing the code. Cambridge China Bridge sources hand-hooked rugs.
A flat 8% duty, after checking construction
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5705 covers other carpets and textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. Its listed China rates are uniformly 8%, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension. The table separates fibre options that share commodity codes; each assumes the construction belongs in this heading.
The other-textile lines attach cat and dog fur import controls, and some also attach CITES import controls. Imports containing cat or dog fur are banned. For proposed CITES-listed materials, confirm the applicable permits and any restrictions with your customs broker before ordering from China. The tariff also records cultural-object export licensing and, on some lines, CITES and fur export controls; ask your broker about these if re-exporting.
Do not select a code solely from the supplier's description of a rug as hand-hooked. Obtain construction photographs and a sample: tufted rugs belong in heading 5703. Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturing method and fibres. The wider rugs and mats guide covers the broader product family.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made polyester rugs, subject to construction confirmation | 5705 00 30 10 | 8% | None |
| Hand-made wool rugs, subject to construction confirmation | 5705 00 80 91 | 8% | None |
Specify the hooked face and backing
Agree the face fibre, yarn thickness, loop height, density, pattern placement, finished dimensions and edge finish against an approved sample. Ask how the yarn is secured through the foundation and whether adhesive or an additional backing is used. Keep photographs of the face and reverse so a change in construction is visible.
Specify the intended floor, cleaning method and whether an underlay is needed. Consumer rugs in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use; confirm the applicable regime with the relevant authority if selling in Northern Ireland. Fibre content must be labelled; ask the relevant authority which parts the declaration should cover and which fibre names to use. Agree backing adhesion, colour transfer, cleaning and floor-staining checks through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 50 hand-hooked wool rugs, illustratively classified in this line under 5705 00 80 91, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,960 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,960. Duty at 8% is £476.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,436.80, so it is £1,287.36. Import taxes total £1,764.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £476.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Loops and pattern: compare loop height, coverage and motif placement with the approved sample; check loose loops, exposed foundation, missing yarn and snagging.
Shape and edges: measure finished dimensions, check squareness and inspect binding; unroll arrival samples and check that edges and corners settle flat.
Backing and floor contact: check adhesion, cracking, odour and shedding; test any anti-slip claim and look for marking on the intended flooring.
Colour, cleaning and labels: check rubbing and cleaning against the agreed care method; compare fibre results with the use-surface label and match each design to its carton.
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What goes wrong
A surface that looks even in a photograph can contain loose loops or sparse areas that expose the foundation. Uneven tension can distort motifs and leave corners raised. Backing changes can cause peeling, stiffness or floor staining, while poorly fixed dyes can transfer during cleaning.
Keep an approved physical sample and inspect both faces before shipment. At arrival, unroll samples from different cartons and repeat the flatness, backing and colour checks. If a supplier substitutes tufted construction for the agreed hooked construction, reassess the specification and commodity code before accepting the goods.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on hand-hooked rugs from China?
For rugs correctly classified in heading 5705, the listed China duty is 8%, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension. Confirm the construction before choosing the code.
Does hand-hooked automatically mean heading 5705?
No. Check the manufacturing method and a physical sample. Tufted rugs belong in heading 5703, so the supplier's product name alone is insufficient.
What fibre label does a hand-hooked rug need?
Show the fibre composition, and confirm with the relevant authority which parts the declaration should cover and which fibre names to use. Check the actual yarn against the label rather than relying on the supplier's description.
What should I check when the rugs arrive?
Unroll samples and check loose loops, exposed foundation, distorted patterns, curling corners, backing adhesion and colour transfer. Compare dimensions and labels with the approved sample and specification.