Sourcing lace and tulle from China
Lace and tulle from China pay 8% UK duty, except plain tulle and net at 6%, with no anti-dumping duty. Much of the stretch and lingerie lace sold as lace is knitted on raschel machines and classified in chapter 60, not 5804, so check the construction. Lace sold to consumers needs fibre content labelling, and dyed lace should be tested for banned azo dyes.
Mechanically made lace, handmade lace and tulle net from China pay 6% or 8% UK duty. Knitted lace classification, fibre labels and dye checks explained.
6% or 8% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 5804 covers tulles and other net fabrics, not woven, knitted or crocheted, and lace in the piece, in strips or in motifs, other than the knitted fabrics of headings 6002 to 6006. Plain tulle and net carried 6% on goods from China; patterned net, mechanically made lace of man-made fibres or other materials, and handmade lace carried 8%. There is no anti-dumping measure and no tariff suspension.
The exclusion matters: raschel and other knitted laces, including most stretch lace for lingerie, are knitted fabrics of chapter 60, and embroidered fabric is heading 5810 (see our embroidered patches guide). Narrow lace trims can also sit with braids and trimmings (see our braids and trimmings guide), so confirm the commodity code from a sample.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulle and other net fabrics, plain | 5804 10 10 00 | 6% | None |
| Tulle and other net fabrics, other | 5804 10 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Mechanically made lace of man-made fibres | 5804 21 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Mechanically made lace of other textile materials | 5804 29 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Handmade lace | 5804 30 00 00 | 8% | None |
Labelling and chemicals
Lace and tulle sold to consumers by the metre, and garments made from them, need fibre content labelling under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, using the listed fibre names.
Entry 43 of Annex XVII to UK REACH bans azo colourants that release listed aromatic amines in textiles that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin, which covers lingerie and bridal lace. Ask the mill for dye test reports on each colour.
Specifying lace
Specify construction (Leavers-style, raschel, embroidered or bobbin), fibre composition, width, scallop edges, pattern repeat, weight per metre, stretch if any, colour references and dye lot, finishing (soft or stiff), and roll length and packing.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 4,000 metres of mechanically made polyester lace for bridal wear under 5804 21 00 00. At £12,000 free on board and £600 to ship and insure, the customs value is £12,600. Lace at 8% pay £1,008 of duty; VAT is then worked out on value plus duty, £13,608, giving £2,721.60. Of the £3,729.60 paid at import, only the £1,008 of duty stays a cost for a VAT-registered business. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Composition: have fibre content verified to the ISO 1833 methods on a sample from each lot, and check it matches the label.
Colour and pattern: compare colour against the approved standard under daylight, check shade between rolls, and check pattern repeat, broken threads and holes along the length.
Performance: test colour fastness to washing to ISO 105-C06 and dimensional change after washing, and check dye test reports for azo amines.
What goes wrong
Lace orders fail on shade, construction and classification. Rolls from different dye lots do not match, the lace delivered is knitted rather than the mechanically made lace sampled, threads break along scallops, and a knitted lace is entered under 5804.
Approve a strike-off per colour, check shade across rolls and confirm the construction before entry. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources lace and tulle for UK bridal, lingerie and dressmaking businesses, starting with small sample lengths. See small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on lace from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, mechanically made lace under 5804 21 00 00 carried 8% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Is stretch lingerie lace in heading 5804?
Usually not. Raschel and other knitted laces are knitted fabrics of chapter 60.
What is the duty on plain tulle?
Plain tulle and net under 5804 10 10 00 carried 6% from China.
Does lace need a fibre label?
Yes, when sold to consumers, under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012.