Sourcing plastic laundry baskets from China
Plastic laundry baskets from China carry 6% UK duty under 3924 90 00 90, with no trade remedy or suspension listed for this line. Consumer baskets sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal and reasonably foreseeable use. Check handles, moulded edges and loaded stability. Cambridge China Bridge sources plastic laundry baskets.
Duty on plastic laundry baskets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3924 covers plastic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and hygienic or toilet articles. Ordinary plastic laundry baskets fall within other household articles under 3924 90 00 90. The basket styles in the table share this commodity line.
The supplied tariff record shows 6% duty for goods from China on this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The ironing-board trade remedy elsewhere in the heading is specific to that separate line.
Give your broker photographs, material composition and intended use to confirm the commodity code, especially for baskets combining plastic with other materials. See homeware and kitchenware for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid plastic laundry baskets | 3924 90 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the resin, handles and nesting
Specify the resin, agreed recycled content, finished dimensions, empty weight, wall thickness, colour and surface texture. Approve a physical sample with the production handle design, lid and ventilation pattern. Agree a carrying load and test method using wet laundry, rather than accepting a capacity claim alone.
For consumer baskets sold in Great Britain, the importer must ensure safety in normal and reasonably foreseeable use. Assess handle detachment, sharp moulding flash, unstable bases and lid pinch points. Where reasonable, the product or packaging must identify the producer's name and address and the product reference or batch.
Agree nesting depth, separation protection and carton packing. Trial a packed carton: baskets should separate without distorting their rims, and lids should retain their fit after unpacking.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 nested plastic laundry baskets under 3924 90 00 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 6% is £456. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,056, so it is £1,611.20. Import taxes total £2,067.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £456 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Body: compare dimensions, weight, wall thickness and colour with the approved sample; check for cracks, incomplete moulding and rocking bases.
Handles and lid: carry the agreed wet-laundry load, inspect handle roots for whitening or cracks, and check lid fit and pinch points.
Edges: run a cloth around rims, handles and ventilation openings to find burrs or flash that could snag clothing.
Packing and identification: un-nest arrival samples, check scuffing and deformation, and compare product identification with the approved artwork.
What goes wrong
Thin walls bow, handle roots crack under wet laundry, and rough ventilation openings snag fabric. Tightly nested baskets can arrive scuffed or with distorted rims; a lid that fitted the approval sample may no longer close after packing pressure.
Keep the approved sample and agreed resin specification available for batch comparison. Test carrying strength and packed nesting before shipment, then repeat those checks on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the inspection scope.
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 plastic laundry baskets from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 6% under 3924 90 00 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed for that line.
What safety rules apply to plastic laundry baskets?
Consumer baskets sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal and reasonably foreseeable use under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Check handles, edges, stability and lid pinch points.
How do I check laundry basket handles?
Agree a carrying load using wet laundry and test the production handle design. Look for detachment, cracks and whitening around the handle roots.
How can I prevent damage to nested laundry baskets?
Agree nesting depth and separation protection, then trial the packed carton. Check that baskets separate easily and that rims and lids retain their shape.