Sourcing knotted nets and netting from China
Knotted netting and made-up nets of textile materials from China, such as fishing nets, cargo and trailer nets, safety nets and debris netting, pay 8% UK duty on every line with no anti-dumping duty. Sports nets and landing nets are classified elsewhere, and safety nets are tested to BS EN 1263-1. Mesh size and breaking strength decide the order. Cambridge China Bridge sources nets.
Fishing nets, cargo nets, safety nets and knotted netting from China pay 8% UK duty. What falls outside the heading, EN 1263-1, ISO 1805 tests and an example.
A flat 8%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, knotted netting of twine, cordage or rope, made-up fishing nets and other made-up nets of textile materials, heading 5608, carried 8% on goods from China on every line, with no anti-dumping measure.
Nets for sports such as football goal and tennis nets are sports equipment of heading 9506, landing nets for anglers are tackle of 9507 (see our fishing tackle guide), and knitted netting fabric is a knitted fabric. Twine and rope themselves are in our ropes and cordage guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made-up fishing nets of man-made twine, cordage or rope | 5608 11 20 00 | 8% | None |
| Other made-up fishing nets of man-made materials | 5608 11 80 00 | 8% | None |
| Made-up nets of nylon twine, cordage or rope | 5608 19 11 00 | 8% | None |
| Other made-up nets of man-made materials | 5608 19 30 00 | 8% | None |
| Other nets and netting | 5608 90 00 90 | 8% | None |
Specifying nets
Nets are bought on material, twine construction, mesh size, knot type, overall size and border rope, and on the breaking force of the netting yarn and knot, which ISO 1805 describes how to measure for fishing netting. Put these and UV stabilisation for outdoor use in the product specification.
Safety nets used on construction sites to catch falling people are covered by BS EN 1263-1, which sets mesh, energy absorption and marking requirements, and the netting must carry the label and test evidence the standard requires. Cargo and lifting nets used at work come under lifting equipment rules, so ask for the rated load and proof test certificate.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of 2,000 made-up polyester cargo nets under 5608 19 30 00, add the £1,600 of freight and insurance to the £18,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £19,600. At 8%, duty on these made-up nets is £1,568; import VAT of £4,233.60 is 20% of the value with duty added. Together that is £5,801.60, but a VAT-registered importer usually gets the VAT back. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
What goes wrong
Nets fail on strength, mesh and ageing. Twine is thinner or weaker than ordered so knots slip or break under load; mesh size varies so nets fail a fisheries or site requirement; knots are loose and the net deforms; UV stabiliser is left out and outdoor nets go brittle within a season; and safety nets arrive without the label and test certificate of BS EN 1263-1.
Measure mesh size and overall dimensions on sampled nets, test twine and knot breaking force on each lot, check knot tightness and border rope attachment, ask for UV stabiliser content or weathering test results for outdoor nets, check labels, rated loads and test certificates, and inspect bales for damage before loading.
Cambridge China Bridge sources fishing, cargo, safety and debris nets for fishing, construction, transport and garden buyers, and checks factories where rated loads and certificates matter. See how we verify factories.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on fishing nets from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, made-up fishing nets and other nets of heading 5608 carried 8% from China on every line.
Are football goal nets in this heading?
No. Nets for sports are sports equipment of heading 9506.
Which standard covers construction safety nets?
BS EN 1263-1 sets the requirements, testing and labelling for safety nets.
How do I check a net's strength?
Test twine and knot breaking force on samples from each lot, using the ISO 1805 method for fishing netting.