Sourcing Textile Pleated Blinds from China

Duty depends on the textile construction

Heading 6303 covers textile curtains, interior blinds and curtain or bed valances. For pleated blinds, identify the fibre and whether the fabric is nonwoven, woven or knitted. A pleated appearance alone does not identify the tariff line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, nonwoven blinds of synthetic fibres or other textile materials carry 6% duty on goods from China. Other listed constructions carry 12%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls.

Give your customs broker the fabric specification, construction details and finished-product photographs to confirm the commodity code. For the wider textile blind heading, see textile Roman blinds.

Pleat retention, window fit and operating system

Specify finished width and drop, fitting inside or outside the recess, pleat depth, compressed stack height and bracket positions. State whether the blind is free-hanging or tensioned, how it opens, and which rails, handles and fixings are included. Approve a mounted sample using the intended fitting method.

Agree fibre composition, woven or nonwoven construction, colour, opacity and cleaning instructions. Check blackout claims on the assembled blind, including edges and cord holes. Ask the factory to demonstrate that pleats recover after storage and repeated operation.

Fibre content must be labelled for sale in Great Britain. New blinds with looped cords must have child safety devices fitted during manufacture or supplied with the blind. Settle the safety device, warnings and installation instructions before approving production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 800 woven polyester pleated blinds; illustrative order, values in whole pounds under 6303 92 90 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 12% is £1,176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,976, so it is £2,195.20. Import taxes total £3,371.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure finished width, drop and stack height against the approved drawing; mount the blind and check bracket engagement, rail alignment and clearance.

Pleats and fabric: check consistent folds, recovery after unpacking, shade matching, coating marks and pinholes; compare light transmission with the approved sample.

Operation and safety: raise and lower the blind repeatedly, check that it holds its position, and verify the agreed cord safety devices, warnings and fitting instructions.

Labels and packing: match fibre labels to the specification, check the fixing pack and window identification, and inspect cartons for crushed rails or distorted pleats. Record results at quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Pleats can lose their shape in compressed or damp packing, leaving uneven folds when the blind is opened. Incorrect recess allowances cause rubbing, while mismatched brackets or twisted rails prevent smooth movement. Compare an unpacked production blind with the mounted approval sample before releasing the shipment.

A fabric swatch can look opaque while the assembled blind leaks light around the edges and cord holes. Substituted fabric can change both performance and tariff classification. Record the approved fabric construction and hardware, and require approval before substitutions.

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.