Sourcing slate floor tiles from China

Duty on slate floor tiles

Heading 6803 covers worked slate and articles of slate or agglomerated slate. Slate floor tiles fall within the other worked slate line, 6803 00 90 00. The table shows floor tile variants sharing that tariff line; the finishes do not create separate commodity codes.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, both lines in this heading carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the material, processing and intended use against the commodity code guide. For the wider heading and wall products, see slate wall cladding.

Specify the slate face and finished thickness

Specify natural slate, quarry identity, tile dimensions, thickness tolerance, edge profile and whether the underside is calibrated. Choose a riven, honed or brushed face and approve a range sample showing acceptable colour variation, surface relief and mineral inclusions. Agree whether tiles arrive sealed and identify the proposed sealer.

Confirm with the relevant authority whether a designated construction product standard applies and what declaration of performance and marking are needed for the actual tile format and intended use. CE marking remains available for construction products supplied in Great Britain. Check declared flexural strength, water absorption and slip resistance; for outdoor tiles, also check frost resistance.

For workplace floors, HSE says the floor must suit the work activity. Ask for slip resistance evidence for the specified surface and expected wet conditions. Agree how any sealer will be represented in the tested sample, and use testing and certification support to resolve gaps before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of crated slate floor tiles under 6803 00 90 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,600, so it is £3,720. 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

Dimensions: measure sampled tiles from different crates for length, width, thickness, squareness and flatness; check the calibrated underside against the agreed specification.

Faces and edges: inspect for cracks, loose layers, chipped corners and prominent metallic inclusions; dry-lay a selection to compare colour and surface relief with the approved range.

Documents: match the declaration of performance, marking and test reports to the supplied slate, tile format, finish and intended use.

Packing and arrival: check separators, edge protection and restraint inside crates; record broken tiles before moving the stock. Follow the quality inspection guide when agreeing sampling and reporting.

What goes wrong

Uneven thickness and pronounced surface relief make adjacent tiles difficult to lay level. Loose layers can detach, and oxidising pyrite can cause rust staining. A colour sample taken from a selected tile can hide the variation across the shipment. Agree rejection criteria using a representative range before production.

Loose packing causes cracked tiles and broken corners. A report for a different finish leaves the ordered surface unverified, particularly when a sealer is added. Check the finished product and packing before dispatch, then photograph arrival damage and keep affected crates identifiable.

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.