Sourcing hand-knotted viscose rugs from China

Zero duty on knotted viscose rugs

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. Every supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. For hand-knotted viscose, use 5701 90 90 10 as a starting point for classification checks. The comparison rows show alternative material and construction categories.

The supplied lines attach an import waste control. If a China consignment is waste subject to notification controls, shipment to England can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the control applies to the actual goods and which procedure is required.

Give your broker the pile and foundation fibre composition, construction photographs and product description to confirm the commodity code. A supplier's description of a rug as silk-like does not establish its fibre content. For the wider heading and a material comparison, see hand-knotted silk rugs.

Specify the viscose pile and cleaning behaviour

Specify pile fibre composition separately from the warp, weft and fringe. Agree finished dimensions, size tolerance, knot density, pile height, rug weight, edge finish and colour references. Keep an approved rug sample, including its reverse, rather than approving only a photograph of the design.

Textile labels must show fibre content. Match the label wording to the verified material and describe the pile clearly when the foundation uses a different fibre. Home rugs must be safe for consumers; check curled edges, movement on the intended floor and any anti-slip claim.

Agree a cleaning method and test it on the approved sample. Check for water marks, browning, colour transfer, pile distortion and changes in feel after drying. Confirm which workshop knots the rugs and how subcontracted production is identified through factory verification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 hand-knotted viscose rugs; illustrative order, FOB value and freight 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

Material: compare fibre-test results, labels and production records with the agreed pile and foundation composition.

Knots and finish: compare knot density with the sample; inspect the reverse for loose knots, repairs, weak fringes and uneven edge binding.

Colour and cleaning: check shade in consistent lighting and with the pile brushed in the same direction; test rubbing and the agreed cleaning method.

Shape and packing: measure length, width and diagonals; lay rugs flat and check curled edges, dampness, mould, crushing and colour transfer from packing.

What goes wrong

A silk-like appearance can hide a change in fibre composition. Low knot density blurs the pattern, while uneven trimming and pile direction make matching rugs look different. Require approval before the factory changes yarn, dye or finishing methods.

Viscose pile can develop water marks, browning or a changed texture after wet cleaning. Tight rolling can leave creases, and damp packing can damage an otherwise acceptable rug. Test cleaning before production and inspect unpacked rugs after the pile has relaxed.

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.