Sourcing hand-knotted cotton rugs from China

Cotton rug classification and duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 October 2026, heading 5701 covers knotted carpets and other textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. Hand-made cotton rugs fall within the other-textile-materials line, 5701 90 90 10, subject to confirmation of composition and construction. Duty on goods from China is 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension recorded. The other table rows are classification comparisons, not alternative codes for the same cotton rug.

The cotton line carries an import waste control. For a China shipment to England subject to waste notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the shipment attracts this requirement. The supplied tariff record also lists export waste controls and cultural-object export licensing; confirm their applicability with your broker before any subsequent export.

Give your broker photographs of the knots and reverse, plus the pile, warp and weft composition. A cotton foundation does not establish that the pile is cotton. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. For the wider heading, see hand-knotted wool rugs.

Specify the cotton pile and knot construction

Specify the fibre composition of the pile, warp, weft, fringe and any backing separately. Agree knot density, pile height, finished dimensions, dimensional tolerances, edge binding, fringe finish and colour references against an approved sample. Ask for reverse-side photographs showing the knots, rather than relying on a hand-made description.

For sales in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content. Consumer rugs must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Build checks for curled edges, loose fringes and movement on the intended floor into the buying specification. Agree cleaning instructions and test shrinkage and colour transfer using the proposed cleaning method.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 100 hand-knotted cotton rugs; illustrative whole-pound FOB and freight values under 5701 90 90 10, invoiced at £25,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,500, so it is £5,300. 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

Construction: inspect the reverse for individual knots, loose ends, repairs and inconsistent density; compare the pile and foundation with the approved sample.

Dimensions: measure length, width and diagonals, including the agreed treatment of fringes; lay the rug flat and check for curling, skew and uneven edges.

Colour and cleaning: check shade consistency across the order, rubbing transfer and changes after the agreed cleaning trial; record shrinkage and distorted fringes.

Labels and packing: match fibre labels to the agreed composition; check care instructions, design identification, dry packing, musty odours and visible mould on arrival.

What goes wrong

A supplier may describe a rug as cotton because its foundation is cotton while using a different pile fibre. A hand-made description can also conceal tufted or flatwoven construction. Resolve both points before production, using the sample, reverse photographs and a written material specification.

Uneven loom tension leaves rugs out of square, while loose edge finishing and fringes unravel during handling. Dyes can transfer during cleaning, and damp packing can leave odours or mould. Record defects against the approved sample and agree correction before shipment. Use quality inspection to define the checks.

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.