Sourcing raw cotton and combed cotton from China
Cotton not carded or combed from China, including bleached or absorbent cotton, and carded or combed cotton sliver pay 0% UK duty on all three lines of headings 5201 and 5203, with no anti-dumping duty. Buyers check grade, staple length, micronaire, strength, contamination and moisture, and many UK customers ask for evidence of where the fibre was grown because of forced labour risk.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 5201 covers cotton not carded or combed, split into cotton rendered absorbent or bleached and other; heading 5203 covers cotton carded or combed as a single line. All three lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Cotton waste and garnetted stock are heading 5202, and linters are heading 1404; confirm the commodity code. Absorbent cotton wool put up for retail or medical use is covered in our wadding and cotton wool guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton not carded or combed, rendered absorbent or bleached | 5201 00 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other cotton not carded or combed | 5201 00 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Cotton, carded or combed | 5203 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specification and origin
Specify grade, staple length, micronaire, strength, uniformity, trash and contamination limits, moisture, and bale weight. For bleached or absorbent cotton, add whiteness, absorbency and residue limits. Ask for HVI test data per lot.
Cotton supply chains carry a recognised forced labour risk. A commercial organisation at or above the turnover threshold set under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 must publish a statement of the steps it takes against slavery in its supply chains, and retail customers often require evidence of where the fibre was grown. Ask the supplier for origin documents and any traceability testing in writing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of combed cotton sliver under 5203 00 00 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £62,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £62,500, so it is £12,500. 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
Fibre: check HVI data and staple on samples.
Contamination: check trash, plastic and foreign fibres.
Documents: check origin and traceability evidence. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Raw cotton orders fail on grade, contamination and origin evidence. Micronaire or staple differs from the contract, bales carry plastic contamination, and the supplier cannot show where the cotton was grown.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on raw cotton from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, raw cotton under 5201 00 90 00 carried 0% from China.
Is combed cotton sliver a different code?
Yes. Carded or combed cotton is 5203 00 00 00, also at 0%.
Why do customers ask where the cotton was grown?
Because of forced labour risk in cotton supply chains; many retailers require origin evidence.
What is micronaire?
A measure of fibre fineness and maturity that affects spinning and dyeing.