Sourcing hand-knotted jute rugs from China

Zero duty for hand-knotted jute rugs

Heading 5701 covers knotted carpets and other textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. Hand-knotted jute rugs are candidates for 5701 90 90 10, the handmade line for other textile materials. The table shows different jute formats under this same candidate code. Handmade flatweave is a different construction. See the wider hand-knotted rugs guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 October 2026, the relevant line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The tariff attaches an import waste control. Confirm its application to the consignment with your customs broker. If importing waste under notification controls into England, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in China for consent.

Send the broker photographs of the face and reverse, the fibre specification and a description of how the knots are formed. Confirm the commodity code before ordering, especially for blended fibres or a rug described only as handmade. Import VAT is separate from duty; see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the jute, knots and intended use

Specify the jute yarn, any blended fibres, warp and weft materials, knot construction, density, finished dimensions, edge binding and fringe. Agree acceptable variation in natural colour against an approved sample. Record any backing, adhesive, dye or surface treatment. Ask for reverse-side photographs and a production sample so the handmade claim can be checked against actual knots.

For sale in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content and consumer rugs must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Agree checks for curling edges, slipping and loose fibres, and test any anti-slip claim. Jute can brown after wetting, so agree care wording and assess spill behaviour before approving it. Use testing and certification support to define checks for the actual rug.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 hand-knotted jute rugs, illustrative order 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: examine the reverse for genuine knots, loose ends, repairs and uneven density; compare the weave and yarn with the approved sample.

Shape: measure length, width and diagonals, or diameter for round rugs; unroll them on a flat surface and check curling, distorted borders and uneven fringes.

Fibre and colour: compare the declared composition with material evidence; check shading, shedding and colour transfer by rubbing, with agreed testing for dyed designs.

Condition and labels: open packaging and check for dampness, mould, staining and odour; verify the fibre label and agreed care wording against the approved artwork.

What goes wrong

A supplier may use handmade to describe flatwoven or braided jute rather than hand-knotted construction. That changes classification and the appearance of the rug. Natural colour variation also causes disputes when the buyer approves a photograph instead of a physical sample. Retain the sample and make the permitted variation explicit.

Loose knots and inconsistent yarn produce bald patches, protruding fibres and uneven wear. Poor tension leaves the rug out of square or unable to lie flat. Damp packing can lead to mould and brown staining; isolate affected stock on arrival, photograph the condition and compare it with the agreed packing and inspection records.

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.