Sourcing Rope Coasters from China

Rope articles carry 4% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 5609 covers articles of yarn, twine, cordage, rope or cables not elsewhere specified or included. Rope coasters classified here use 5609 00 00 00 and carry 4% duty from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows coaster variants sharing the single recorded commodity line.

The tariff attaches import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned, including goods sourced from China. Specify coasters without cat or dog fur and ask the supplier to identify any animal-derived decoration.

Confirm the commodity code against the finished sample, including any backing and decorative components. For other made-up rope articles within the wider heading, see rope doorstops.

Specify the rope, joins and cup contact

State the fibre composition, rope construction, finished shape, diameter or width, thickness and tolerances. Agree whether the coils are stitched, glued or both, how the outer rope end is secured, and whether there is a backing. Keep an approved sample showing the colour, surface texture and underside.

Define the intended use beneath drinking vessels and agree checks with the cups and table finishes your customers use. Include wet colour transfer, drying, cup stability and bond strength after damp use. Test any heat-protection claim on the finished coaster before adopting it.

Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Confirm the applicable textile labelling for the finished construction; where those requirements apply, the label must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 cotton rope coasters under 5609 00 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £648 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,648. Duty at 4% is £145.92. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,793.92, so it is £758.78. Import taxes total £904.70; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £145.92 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shape and stability: measure against the agreed dimensions, place the coaster on a flat surface and check that the intended cup sits without rocking.

Rope and joins: compare fibre and texture with the approved sample; check loose fibres, exposed glue, sharp inclusions and the security of the centre and outer end.

Moisture and colour: dampen samples, rub against a white cloth and check for colour transfer, swelling, curling and separation after drying.

Packing and identification: check for dampness, mould and odour; compare composition wording, product identification and pack contents with the order.

What goes wrong

A coaster can match the photograph yet curl beneath a cup. Uneven rope tension creates a raised centre, glue releases after damp use, and a poorly secured outer end unravels. Dyed rope can stain pale tables, while coarse fibres or exposed glue can mark polished surfaces.

Use the approved sample as the acceptance reference and repeat the agreed wet-use checks on production goods. Keep suspect stock separate while investigating mould, contamination or failed bonds. See quality inspection explained for planning the checks.

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.