Sourcing PVC textile tarpaulins from China

A flat 12% for textile tarpaulins

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6306 covers tarpaulins, awnings, sunblinds, tents, sails and camping goods. This guide covers finished PVC-coated textile tarpaulins. The table repeats the relevant textile-material lines for flat sheets and fitted covers; these are product variants within the same codes.

The supplied tariff record shows 12% duty for Chinese goods on both relevant tarpaulin lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. The heading's field-hospital tent suspension does not apply to these tarpaulin lines.

Give your broker the backing composition, coating details, photographs and finished construction to confirm the commodity code. Do not select it from the description 'PVC tarp' alone. For another product family in this heading, see retractable fabric awnings.

Specify the backing, coating and welded edges

State the textile backing, finished dimensions, coated fabric mass, coating construction, colour and surface finish. Supply a drawing showing seam positions, welded hems, corner reinforcements and eyelet locations. Agree whether dimensions describe the finished cover or the fabric before hemming.

Set acceptance criteria for water resistance, coating adhesion, tear strength, seam strength and eyelet pull-out. Match weathering and cold-flex testing to the intended storage and exposure. Approve a production-material sample, including a welded joint and reinforced eyelet, rather than fabric alone.

Businesses importing or selling consumer products in the UK are responsible for their safety. REACH restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances. Ask for the coating formulation and arrange a product-specific restricted-substance review through testing and certification, rather than accepting a generic fabric report.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of PVC-coated polyester textile tarpaulins under 6306 12 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 12% is £1,176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,976, so it is £2,195.20. Import taxes total £3,371.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fabric and coating: compare the backing, finished mass, colour and flexibility with the approved sample; check for pinholes, bare patches, tackiness and separation.

Seams and hems: check weld continuity and joint strength; test water resistance across joins as well as the main sheet.

Eyelets and fit: measure finished dimensions and eyelet positions; pull-check reinforced corners and look for sharp edges, loose fittings and tearing.

Arrival and packing: unfold samples from different cartons, check crease cracking, coating transfer and damp packing, and match carton contents to the order. Agree these checks before inspection.

What goes wrong

A heavy coating can disguise a weak textile backing. Narrow or incomplete welds leak, eyelets tear through unsupported hems, and covers arrive smaller than expected because the supplier quoted dimensions before finishing. Coating can crack at folds or stick to itself in packed goods.

Keep approved joint and corner samples alongside the fabric sample. Compare production goods against agreed performance criteria and inspect unfolded covers on arrival. Describe a cover's intended use precisely; support waterproof, weather-resistant or flame-retardant claims with testing of the actual coated construction.

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.