Sourcing tatami mat facing from China

Zero duty on qualifying tatami facing

Heading 4601 covers plaiting materials and plaits bound together or woven in sheet form, including mats and matting. This guide concerns the surface facing supplied for covering or repairing tatami, rather than a complete mat with its core. The table gives candidate lines for rush and bamboo facing; confirm the actual construction before using them.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, all lines in this heading carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Zero duty does not remove product safety or chemical restrictions.

Give your customs broker the material composition, weave description, backing details and photographs to confirm the commodity code. See bamboo and seagrass mats and screens for the wider heading.

Specify the facing, weave and fitting allowance

State whether the facing is rush, bamboo or another material. Specify sheets or rolls, usable width, cut length, thickness, weave direction, edge finish and the allowance needed to wrap around the core. Identify backing, adhesives, dyes and surface treatments separately. Approve a sample fitted to your intended core, checking corners, tension and the surface under bare feet.

Agree colour variation, weave density, drying method and a moisture acceptance limit with the factory. Ask for the identity of every anti-mould treatment and sachet. Confirm any applicable UK REACH restrictions on dimethyl fumarate with the relevant authority before accepting treated goods. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use; check loose fibres, sharp ends and the intended installation.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 square metres of woven rush tatami facing; illustrative order under 4601 29 90 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,200, so it is £1,840. 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

Material and weave: compare arrival samples with the approved facing, including backing and finish; inspect for broken strands, open weave, loose warp threads and sharp ends.

Dimensions and fitting: measure usable width, length and thickness against the order; fit sampled facing around the intended core and check corners, edge grip and rippling.

Moisture and cleanliness: measure moisture against the agreed limit; open packs from different parts of the shipment and check for mould, musty smells, insects and unexplained treatment sachets.

Packing and identification: check protection against crushed edges and permanent folds, and match carton contents to the order. Confirm treatment and marking requirements for any solid-wood pallets and crates with APHA or your customs broker. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A sample can look right while production uses a different rush grade, weave or backing. Colour differences become obvious when facings are installed side by side. Insufficient cutting allowance exposes the core, loose weave opens under tension, and tightly folded sheets retain creases. Compare production pieces on the intended core before dispatch.

Damp facing sealed in packaging can arrive mouldy, while uneven drying can leave it rippled. Agree drying and packing methods, inspect before loading and check arrival stock before fitting it. Ask a testing and certification service to assess chemical tests for the declared treatments.

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.