Sourcing stitch-bonded carpets from China

A flat 8% duty within heading 5705

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5705 covers other carpets and textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. Every supplied line carries 8% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. For stitch-bonded carpets, obtain the manufacturing description and material breakdown before choosing a line.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import controls to the other-textile lines, and CITES import controls to the residual other-textile lines. Cat and dog fur products are banned. Listed natural materials can require CITES permits; confirm the species and documents with your customs broker before dispatch from China. The data also lists export controls, including a cultural-goods export licence control; these should be distinguished from import requirements.

The table shows material categories to investigate, rather than interchangeable codes. Its hand-made line is relevant only if that description genuinely applies. Confirm the commodity code from the actual construction. See the wider needle-felt carpet and carpet tiles guide when comparing products sold under similar descriptions.

Specify the stitched structure and backing

Ask the factory to describe how the fibre web is held together by stitching, with face and reverse photographs and a cut sample. Specify the face fibres, stitching yarn, stitch spacing, surface weight, thickness, roll width, usable length and backing material. Agree tolerances against a retained sample, including whether cut edges need binding.

For consumer carpets sold in Great Britain, general product safety rules require safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Fibre labelling must identify fibre content; confirm with Trading Standards how this requirement applies to the use surface. For carpets supplied for fitting in buildings, agree the declaration of performance and reaction to fire evidence for the exact construction and backing before ordering.

State the intended traffic, cleaning method, substrate and installation method. Ask for evidence covering the supplied backing and any adhesive system. A report for a different coating or heavier construction does not establish the performance of the proposed carpet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of stitch-bonded carpet rolls under 5705 00 30 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £34,000. Duty at 8% is £2,720. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £36,720, so it is £7,344. Import taxes total £10,064; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,720 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Stitch integrity: inspect for skipped stitches, broken yarn, loose loops and lines that unravel when cut; compare stitch spacing and surface coverage with the approved sample.

Dimensions and appearance: measure usable roll width and length, check thickness and weight against the specification, and lay adjacent lengths together to reveal shade differences and directional appearance.

Backing and flatness: unroll arrival samples, check curling and rippling, flex the backing for cracks, and check layer adhesion and marking on the intended floor.

Labels and evidence: compare the use-surface fibre declaration with the agreed composition, match roll identifiers to packing records, and match building-use performance documents to the supplied construction.

What goes wrong

A sample can conceal stitch defects that become obvious across a full roll. Broken stitching can leave tracks or allow local separation; uneven tension can distort the carpet. Check lengths from different rolls and retain a cut sample showing both faces.

Backing changes can cause curling, separation or floor marking, while mixed dye batches can make adjoining lengths visibly different. Record the approved backing and batch allocation in the order. Hold affected rolls separately on arrival and document defects before cutting or installation.

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.