Sourcing hand-knotted wool rugs from China

Duty and controls for hand-knotted wool 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. The relevant wool lines carry 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions recorded. The table shows rugs and runners sharing commodity codes. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

The snapshot attaches CITES and waste import controls to the wool lines. For CITES-listed animal material, check the applicable permit requirements with your customs broker before shipment. For waste imports into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. Ask your broker to confirm the requirements for any shipment from China. The snapshot also lists CITES, waste and cultural-object export controls; flag these to your broker if planning re-export.

For wool rugs containing more than 10% silk by weight, the hand-made line is 5701 10 10 10; the other wool line is 5701 10 90 00. Give the broker the construction and full fibre breakdown to confirm the commodity code. The hand-knotted silk rugs guide covers another material family within the heading.

Specify wool, knots and finishing

Specify pile fibre separately from warp, weft and fringe. Agree the knot density, pile height, finished weight, dimensions, squareness tolerance and whether measurements include the fringe. Keep an approved sample showing the colour, handle, edge binding and back. Require the supplier to identify the knotting workshop and disclose subcontracted production; use factory verification to check how the rugs are made.

Ask whether the wool has been mothproofed and obtain the treatment substance and application details in writing. For mothproofed rugs, confirm with HSE whether treated-article rules apply, whether the active substance is permitted for the relevant use, and whether treatment labelling is required. Agree fibre-content and care wording before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 hand-knotted wool rugs; illustrative order, FOB value and freight under 5701 10 90 00, 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 back for individual knots, repairs and loose yarn; compare knot density and pile weight with the approved sample.

Fibre and labels: test the claimed wool and silk content, check pile separately from foundation yarns, and match the results to the label. Textile labels must show fibre content.

Colour: test rubbing and cleaning performance against agreed acceptance criteria; compare shades across rugs and check for dye transfer onto a light cloth.

Shape and arrival: measure length, width and diagonals, lay rugs flat to check curling edges, and inspect fringes, dampness, mould and insect damage before accepting stock.

What goes wrong

A dense sample can be followed by thinner production with fewer knots, uneven shearing or cheaper fibre blended into the pile. Loose edges and concealed repairs may only become obvious when the rug is unrolled. Check production rugs against the retained sample rather than relying on photographs.

Colours can bleed during cleaning, and uneven loom tension can leave a rug short or out of square. Damp packing can cause odour and mould. Record defects by rug and batch, keep affected stock separate, and agree the inspection and remedial terms before paying the balance.

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.