Sourcing chair-seating rushes from China

Duty on natural chair-seating rushes

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, natural rushes used primarily for plaiting fall within heading 1401. Raw or simply prepared stems are the focus here. The table shows supply forms under the same commodity line, rather than separate tariff categories. See the natural raffia fibre guide for the wider heading.

The relevant line, 1401 90 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches import control of organic products. Its application to these seating rushes has not been established: confirm the requirement with your customs broker before shipping. If organic claims are proposed, also ask an approved UK organic control body which products its rules cover.

Check Great Britain plant health requirements for the exact species and processing; certificate and notification requirements depend on the material. Supply botanical identity, preparation details and photographs when confirming your commodity code. Ask for a fresh classification check if the supplier offers twisted cord or woven seat panels rather than stems.

Specify stems that suit your seating method

Specify natural plant stems rather than paper seating cord. Ask the supplier to identify the species and provide photographs of loose stems and opened bundles. Agree usable length, thickness grading, colour variation, taper and the condition of the pith. State whether stems are cleaned, cut, bleached or dyed, and request details of any preservative or insecticide.

Approve a sample after conditioning and weaving it using your workshop's method. Check whether stems bend around the seat rail without cracking, splice neatly and hold an even weave after drying. Keep the approved sample for comparison with the shipment. Use our small-order service to organise a trial batch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative shipment of bundled natural rush stems for a chair-restoration workshop under 1401 90 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,000, so it is £2,400. 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

Identity: open bundles and compare stems, colour and preparation with the approved sample; look for substituted paper cord or mixed plant material.

Grading: check usable lengths, thickness variation, taper, broken tips and bundle contents against the order.

Condition: inspect inside bundles for mould, musty odour, insects, holes and fresh bore dust; record moisture readings using an agreed method.

Weaving: condition arrival samples as agreed, then bend, splice and weave them; check cracking, surface shedding and uneven tension after drying.

What goes wrong

Attractive outer stems can conceal short, brittle or damp material inside a bundle. Mixed thicknesses make the seat uneven, while stems that crack during bending create waste and interrupt weaving. Inspect opened bundles rather than accepting photographs of their exterior.

A supplier's description of material as natural does not establish an organic status or a plant health exemption. Settle the import-control questions before dispatch, and keep species, treatment and batch information with the purchase documents.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.