Sourcing packing tape and adhesive tapes
Self-adhesive plastic tapes and film in rolls up to 20 cm wide from China, including packing tape of polypropylene, PVC or polyethylene, pay 6% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Tape is bought on adhesive type, film thickness and roll length, and short rolls are the classic hidden cost, so measure the metres. Cambridge China Bridge sources plain and printed packing tape and speciality tapes.
Self-adhesive plastic tape in rolls pays 6% UK duty from China. Adhesive type, film thickness, true roll length and printed tape to specify.
Duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, self-adhesive plastic tape in rolls of a width not exceeding 20 cm with a coating of unvulcanised natural or synthetic rubber, of PVC or polyethylene, of polypropylene or of other plastics, carried 6% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Paper tape and wider film classify differently, so confirm the commodity code by material and width.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolls up to 20 cm, rubber-coated, of PVC or polyethylene | 3919 10 12 00 | 6% | None |
| Rolls up to 20 cm, rubber-coated, of polypropylene | 3919 10 15 00 | 6% | None |
| Rolls up to 20 cm, rubber-coated, of other plastics | 3919 10 19 90 | 6% | None |
Specifying tape
Tape is defined by the backing film and its thickness in microns, the adhesive, acrylic, hot melt or natural rubber, the width and the roll length. Each adhesive suits different conditions: acrylic for long-term and cold storage, hot melt for fast grab on cartons, rubber for difficult surfaces. Put all of these in the product specification.
Printed tape adds the print colours and the repeat; approve a printed roll before production.
Length and thickness
Short rolls and thin film are the commonest ways tape is cheapened. Measure the metres on sample rolls and the film thickness with a micrometer at inspection, and test adhesion and unwind on the cartons your customers use.
Plastic packaging tape counts towards packaging obligations when supplied in the UK; see packaging EPR and the plastic packaging tax.
Storage and freight
Tape is heavy for its volume, so the container weight limit matters, and adhesive can suffer in heat, so avoid long storage in hot containers.
Cambridge China Bridge sources plain and printed packing tape and speciality tapes, with film, adhesive and roll length specified and measured before shipment. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on packing tape from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, self-adhesive plastic tape in rolls up to 20 cm wide carried 6% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Which tape adhesive should I choose?
Acrylic for long-term and cold storage, hot melt for fast grab on cartons, and natural rubber for difficult surfaces.
How is tape usually cheapened?
Short roll lengths and thinner film. Measure the metres and the film thickness on samples at inspection.
Does packing tape count for packaging obligations?
Plastic packaging supplied in the UK counts towards packaging obligations such as EPR and the plastic packaging tax.