Sourcing patterned and wired glass from China
Cast and rolled glass in sheets or profiles from China, such as patterned or obscure glass, wired glass, channel glass and rolled solar glass with a non-reflecting layer, pays 0% UK duty on all seven lines of heading 7003, with no anti-dumping duty. It is not toughened or laminated, so safety glazing needs further processing. Buyers check pattern, thickness and crating.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 October 2026, heading 7003 covers cast glass and rolled glass, in sheets or profiles, whether or not having an absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting layer, but not otherwise worked. All seven lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Float glass is heading 7005, covered in our float glass guide, and toughened or laminated glass in our toughened and laminated glass guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-wired sheets of optical glass, coloured or with a layer | 7003 12 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Non-wired sheets with a non-reflecting layer | 7003 12 91 00 | 0% | None |
| Other non-wired coloured or layered sheets | 7003 12 99 00 | 0% | None |
| Other non-wired sheets of optical glass | 7003 19 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other non-wired sheets, including patterned glass | 7003 19 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Wired sheets | 7003 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Profiles (channel glass) | 7003 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
Safety glazing
Annealed patterned glass breaks into sharp pieces and traditional wired glass should not be assumed to meet impact safety requirements. Where building regulations require protection against impact with glazing, in doors, low-level glazing and similar locations, use glazing that meets the applicable requirements. In England, Approved Document K allows safe-breaking glazing, sufficiently robust glazing, small panes or permanent protection, rather than requiring toughened or laminated glass in every case. State the end use so the right product is supplied, and ask for test evidence for any fire-rated wired or channel glass.
Specifying the glass
Specify pattern name with a sample, thickness and tolerance, sheet size, colour or tint, light transmission for solar or greenhouse glass, flatness, bubbles and stones limits, and crate type with interleaving.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 square metres of 4 mm patterned glass under 7003 19 90 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,500, so it is £2,100. 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.
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What goes wrong
Patterned glass orders fail on pattern, breakage and end use. The pattern differs from the sample, crates are weak and sheets arrive broken, and annealed glass is fitted where safety glazing was required.
Cambridge China Bridge sources glass for UK glaziers and processors by the container. See container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on patterned glass from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 October 2026, cast and rolled glass under heading 7003 carried 0% from China.
Is wired glass a safety glass?
Not in the impact sense; where safety glazing is required, use toughened or laminated glass to the relevant standard.
Is float glass in heading 7003?
No. Float glass is heading 7005.
What should I check on arrival?
Breakage, pattern against the sample, thickness and interleaving.