Sourcing paper correspondence cards from China
Paper correspondence cards from China carry 0% UK import duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed in the supplied tariff record. For paper made from virgin wood fibre, confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker what timber due diligence applies before placing it on the Great Britain market. Cambridge China Bridge sources paper correspondence cards.
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Duty on paper correspondence cards
Heading 4817 covers paper stationery including envelopes, letter cards, plain postcards, correspondence cards and containers holding stationery assortments. Paper correspondence cards share commodity code 4817 20 00 00 with letter cards and plain postcards. The supplied record contains a single relevant commodity line for this focused guide. See the envelope guide for the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, paper correspondence cards from China carried 0% duty. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for this line. Paper made from virgin wood fibre remains subject to timber due diligence when first placed on the Great Britain market.
Confirm the commodity code using the finished card, its material and its printing. Give your broker a sample or artwork, especially if the card carries a printed greeting or picture rather than serving as correspondence stationery.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper correspondence cards, letter cards and plain postcards | 4817 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
Card stock, writing surface and finish
Specify finished dimensions, paper weight, thickness, fibre composition, shade, surface texture and whether the card is flat or folded. Agree the writing area, border position, edge finish and any embossing. Test the proposed stock with the pens your customers use, including fountain pens where relevant, and approve a physical sample for ink feathering, show-through and drying.
Ask for the pulp source, tree species and country of harvest for virgin wood fibre. Confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker what timber due diligence applies to the importer first placing in-scope paper on the Great Britain market. Record the supplier's claimed recycled content separately from the agreed paper specification.
If cards are supplied with envelopes, approve their fit together. Agree pack quantities, protective wrapping and carton support so corners stay square and cards remain flat.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,500 paper correspondence cards; illustrative order, FOB value and freight under 4817 20 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £140 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,640. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,640, so it is £528. 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
Stock: compare weight, thickness, shade and texture with the approved sample; check for substitutions between packs.
Writing: try the agreed pens on production cards and check feathering, bleed-through, smudging and drying.
Cutting and decoration: check dimensions, squareness, clean edges, border alignment and embossing against the approved artwork.
Arrival: inspect for curl, damp patches, odour and crushed corners; count packs and check envelope fit. Use an agreed inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
A visually similar stock can absorb ink differently, making handwriting spread or take longer to dry. Uneven trimming leaves borders off-centre, while heavy embossing can distort the writing surface. Keep the approved physical sample and require approval before changing the stock or finish.
Cards can arrive curled or with damaged corners when wrapping and carton support are inadequate. Inspect stock before distributing it, separate affected packs and photograph the packaging as well as the cards.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on paper correspondence cards from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty under 4817 20 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.
Do timber rules apply to paper correspondence cards?
Confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker whether the virgin-wood-fibre paper is in scope and what timber due diligence applies to the importer first placing it on the Great Britain market. Ask for the pulp source, species and country of harvest.
How do I check whether the cards suit fountain pens?
Write on production samples with the intended pens and inks. Check feathering, bleed-through, show-through and smudging, and compare drying with the approved sample.
What should I specify when ordering correspondence cards?
Specify dimensions, weight, thickness, fibre mix, shade, texture, writing area, decoration and pack quantities. Approve a physical sample and test matching envelope fit.