Sourcing original drypoint prints from China
Original drypoint prints from China under heading 9702 carry 0% UK duty across the relevant age bands. Confirm any reduced import VAT valuation with HMRC or your customs broker. Check that the impressions come directly from artist-made plates in a limited edition, rather than being printed reproductions. Cambridge China Bridge sources original drypoint prints.
Duty and import VAT on original drypoint prints
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 9702 covers original engravings, prints and lithographs. The relevant drypoint lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. The table separates framed and unframed purchases under the same code. The supplied line describing simply worked logs is outside this drypoint guide.
The tariff attaches a DCMS Export Licence control. Official guidance says there are no cultural-object import licensing requirements for Great Britain, but imports from China must comply with China's export licensing regime. Check with the exporting country's licensing authorities and ask your customs broker to confirm the attached control's treatment. For onward exports from Great Britain, check cultural-object export licensing before dispatch.
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether the original prints qualify for reduced import VAT valuation and how it applies; printed reproductions do not qualify merely because they are signed or numbered. Keep evidence of the artist-made plate and limited edition. Confirm the age and production method using finding your commodity code. See UK import duty and VAT for calculations and the original etchings guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original drypoint prints, unframed, 100 years old or less | 9702 90 00 80 | 0% | None |
| Original drypoint prints, over 100 but not over 200 years old | 9702 10 00 21 | 0% | None |
| Original drypoint prints, more than 200 years old | 9702 10 00 11 | 0% | None |
Specify the plate, impression and edition
Agree the artist, title, drypoint technique, plate material, image and sheet dimensions, paper, ink colour, edition size, impression number and signature. Ask who made the plate and who printed the impressions. Request photographs of the plate and close views of the printed lines, together with an artist's statement and edition record. A signature alone does not establish how a print was made.
Approve an actual impression for line strength, ink tone and margins. Drypoint's burr gives characteristic soft lines, but impressions can vary as the plate wears. Agree acceptable variation rather than expecting identical digital copies. Specify flat packing, acid-free interleaving and whether mounting or framing is included. If you want additional reproductions for merchandise, agree the copyright permission separately.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 unframed original drypoint prints; illustrative order and values under 9702 90 00 80, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,200, so it is £640. 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: match the title, artist, signature and impression number against the invoice, edition record and authenticity documents.
Impression: compare line strength, ink tone, wiping marks and margins with the approved impression; flag unexpected fading or substitution.
Paper: check for creases, tears, stains, mould, abrasion and mounting damage; photograph each sheet before and after packing.
Packing: check rigid support, dry interleaving and protection from moisture; check framed works for movement and glazing damage. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A supplier sends a digital reproduction with a handwritten signature instead of an original plate impression. Edition records do not match the sheets, or later impressions have weaker lines than the approved sample. Resolve these differences before shipment and keep the supplier's production evidence with your purchase records.
Rolling, damp packaging and adhesive touching the paper can leave creases, staining or surface damage. Photograph condition before packing and on arrival. When offering the prints for sale, describe the technique, edition and condition from the checked records rather than copying an unsupported supplier description.
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 original drypoint prints from China?
The relevant heading 9702 lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty in the supplied tariff reading.
What import VAT applies to original drypoint prints?
Confirm eligibility for reduced import VAT valuation and the applicable calculation with HMRC or your customs broker. Keep evidence that the prints come directly from artist-made plates in a limited edition; printed reproductions do not qualify on that basis.
Does a signed print count as an original drypoint?
A signature alone does not prove the production method. Ask for plate photographs, an artist's statement and edition records, and compare the actual impression with the approved sample.
Do I need an art import licence for Great Britain?
Official guidance says there are no cultural-object import licensing requirements for Great Britain. You must comply with China's export licensing regime; confirm the attached tariff control with your broker.