Sourcing original textile sculptures from China
Original textile sculptures from China qualifying under heading 9703 carry 0% UK duty across the supplied lines. Establish originality before ordering: mass-produced decorative figures do not qualify as original sculpture. Check any ivory or protected-species components before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources original textile sculptures.
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Duty and classification for textile sculpture
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 9703 covers original sculpture and statuary in any material, including qualifying textile sculptures. All supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no listed suspension. The table distinguishes textile forms within the same contemporary code; these are not separate tariff subdivisions.
The tariff attaches ivory import and CITES controls. Before importing ivory for sale, ask APHA and your customs broker to confirm whether the item is eligible and whether any registration or exemption certificate reference is needed. For CITES-listed components, check the species and applicable documents with the broker before shipment. APHA guidance requires a permit for species listed in Annex A, B or C. The supplied facts also list cultural-object and ivory export controls, which concern outward movements.
Provide the artist's identity, making process, photographs, materials and age evidence when confirming the commodity code. Handmade production alone does not establish originality. Ask the broker to distinguish sculpture from ordinary decorative textile goods. For the wider heading, see our original paper sculptures guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original sewn textile sculptures, 100 years old or less | 9703 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Original textile sculptures, over 100 but not over 200 years old | 9703 10 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Original textile sculptures, more than 200 years old | 9703 10 00 10 | 0% | None |
Specify the textile body and support
Agree the artist, title, signed authenticity documents and any edition details. Record whether the artist makes the work or a workshop manufactures decorative copies. Specify fabric and fibre composition, felting or stitching method, stuffing, internal armature, dimensions, colour references and the intended finished shape.
Agree the base or hanging arrangement, removable components, visible seams and care instructions. Ask for photographs showing the back, underside and internal supports before closure. For contemporary pieces supplied as consumer products in Great Britain, normal and reasonably foreseeable use must be safe. Check stability, exposed wire ends and hanging attachments against the intended display.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 original textile sculptures for a gallery; order and values are illustrative under 9703 90 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,000, so it is £6,400. 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: match the sculpture, signature and artist documents to the invoice and approved photographs.
Textile body: check seam openings, loose fibres, uneven stuffing, dye transfer, stains, dampness and unwanted odours.
Support: check the armature holds the agreed shape, the base remains stable and attachments do not pull through the fabric.
Packing: check supports prevent crushing without stretching seams or rubbing surfaces. Photograph condition during unpacking and use our inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A workshop's handmade decorative copies are described as originals without evidence of the artist's involvement. Resolve authorship and classification before shipment. Undeclared ivory beads or protected-species components also leave the buyer without the information needed to check import controls.
Soft forms arrive flattened, stuffing migrates and internal wire punctures the fabric. Damp packing can leave stains and odours. Agree packing around the actual sculpture, retain photographs before dispatch and compare the unpacked shape with the approved work.
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 textile sculptures from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% duty across heading 9703's listed lines for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure. The work must qualify as original sculpture.
Does handmade textile art automatically qualify as original sculpture?
No. Handmade production alone does not establish originality. Keep artist and making-process evidence, and ask your broker to confirm classification before shipment.
Can I import a textile sculpture containing ivory?
Before ordering ivory-containing items for sale, ask APHA and your customs broker to confirm whether import is permitted, whether the item is eligible for any exemption, and whether a registration or exemption certificate reference is needed.
How should textile sculptures be packed?
Support the intended shape, isolate projecting parts and prevent movement without compressing stuffing or stretching seams. Agree packing using photographs of the actual work.