Sourcing knitted rugs from China
Knitted rugs from China classified under heading 5705 carry a flat 8% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown in the supplied tariff facts. Consumer rugs must be safe in Great Britain and labelled for fibre composition. Check stitch stability, edge curl and backing grip. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted rugs.
A flat 8% duty on knitted rugs
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5705 covers other carpets and textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. For knitted rugs, the relevant distinctions are textile material and hand-made or other manufacture. Confirm the actual knitted construction rather than relying on the supplier's product name. See the crocheted rugs guide for wider heading context.
The supplied lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspensions shown. Send your broker the fibre composition, construction photographs and backing details to confirm the commodity code.
The other-textile lines attach CITES and cat-and-dog-fur import controls. Rugs containing cat or dog fur cannot be imported or exported. For CITES-listed materials from China, confirm the applicable permit and country restrictions with your broker before ordering. The facts also attach cultural-object export licensing and, on other-textile lines, CITES and fur export controls; ask your broker to confirm these before onward export.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made knitted rugs of man-made textile materials | 5705 00 30 10 | 8% | None |
| Other knitted rugs of man-made textile materials | 5705 00 30 90 | 8% | None |
| Hand-made knitted rugs of other textile materials | 5705 00 80 91 | 8% | None |
| Other knitted rugs of other textile materials | 5705 00 80 99 | 8% | None |
Specify the yarn, knit and backing
Agree the face fibre composition, yarn thickness, stitch pattern, knit density, finished dimensions and acceptable variation against an approved sample. Specify how yarn ends, joins and borders are secured. Record whether the rug is hand-knitted or machine-made, and identify any separate backing or anti-slip layer.
Consumer rugs sold in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005; confirm the applicable rules for Northern Ireland with the relevant authority. Fibre composition must be labelled; confirm with the relevant authority whether the use surface must be identified for floor coverings. Agree care instructions from sample washing results and test any anti-slip claim on the intended flooring.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 hand-made knitted polyester rugs under 5705 00 30 10, 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
Stitches and joins: inspect for dropped stitches, loose loops, exposed knots and yarn ends that pull free. Compare stretch and recovery with the approved sample.
Shape and edges: measure after the rug has rested flat, check border tension and look for twisting, rippling or corners that lift. Repeat after the agreed cleaning method.
Backing and colour: check grip and floor marking on the intended surfaces, backing adhesion, colour transfer during rubbing and colour bleeding after washing.
Labels and packing: compare the use-surface fibre label with the agreed composition, match care instructions to sample results and check rugs arrive dry without compression damage.
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What goes wrong
A knitted rug can match the sample's colour while having looser stitches or weaker yarn joins. It then stretches out of shape, snags or unravels. Tight borders can make the centre ripple, while uneven tension can leave the rug skewed. Compare production rugs with the approved sample after laying them flat and after cleaning.
A soft face does not establish backing performance. Backings can slide, mark flooring or shrink differently from the knit, causing edge curl. Agree the checks before dispatch through quality inspection, and repeat the relevant checks on arrival before releasing stock.
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 knitted rugs from China?
The supplied heading 5705 lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspensions shown.
What fibre label does a knitted rug need?
State the fibre composition and confirm the applicable use-surface labelling rules and permitted fibre names with the relevant authority. Check the label against the agreed yarn composition rather than copying the supplier's description.
How do I check whether a knitted rug will lose its shape?
Compare dimensions, edge flatness and stitch tension before and after the agreed cleaning method. Check stretch recovery and whether joins or yarn ends loosen.
Do knitted wool or cotton rugs automatically need CITES permits?
Check the actual species and materials. The tariff attaches CITES controls to the other-textile lines; confirm whether your rug contains a listed material and what documentation applies.