Sourcing tufted carpet runners from China
Tufted carpet runners from China carry a flat 8% UK duty across the relevant lines, with no recorded anti-dumping duty. Consumer runners sold in Great Britain must be safe; backing grip and flat edges need checking on the intended floor. Cambridge China Bridge sources tufted carpet runners.
A flat 8% duty on tufted runners
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, heading 5703 covers tufted carpets and other textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. The relevant runner lines carry 8% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no duty suspensions.
The tariff attaches CITES import control to the wool or fine animal hair line and certain other-textile lines, and cat and dog fur import control to other-textile lines. CITES specimens require an import permit; cat and dog fur products are banned from import. For a China order involving animal materials, have the broker confirm species-specific requirements before shipment. The record also lists export measures, including cultural-goods licensing; ask the broker to distinguish these from import requirements.
Confirm the commodity code from tufted construction, pile fibre, printing and finished format. Describe whether the goods are finished runners or material supplied for cutting. For related products within this heading, see tufted carpet stair treads.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tufted runners of wool or fine animal hair | 5703 10 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Printed nylon or other polyamide tufted runners | 5703 29 19 00 | 8% | None |
| Other nylon or polyamide tufted runners | 5703 29 99 00 | 8% | None |
| Polypropylene tufted runners | 5703 39 19 00 | 8% | None |
| Other man-made fibre tufted runners | 5703 39 99 00 | 8% | None |
| Tufted runners of other textile materials, other | 5703 90 80 90 | 8% | None |
Specify the runner, backing and edge finish
Agree whether the runner is loose-laid in a hallway or supplied for fitting. Specify finished width and length, pile fibre and blend, pile height and mass, backing material, binding colour, border width and pattern direction. Approve a finished sample with the actual backing and bound ends, then agree tolerances and the inspection method.
Consumer runners sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Fibre labelling must show fibre content; confirm with Trading Standards how this applies to the runner's use surface. For carpets supplied for fitting in buildings, confirm with the relevant building-products authority whether a declaration of performance and a reaction to fire class are required. Match the performance documents to the ordered construction and backing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 50 wool tufted carpet runners, illustrative order under 5703 10 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £1,960 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,960. Duty at 8% is £556.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,516.80, so it is £1,503.36. Import taxes total £2,060.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £556.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions and pattern: measure finished length and width, check straight sides, centred borders and pattern direction, and compare runners from different cartons for shade variation.
Pile and edges: compare pile height and mass with the approved sample, check tuft retention and backing adhesion, and inspect binding for missed stitches, exposed cuts and loose ends.
Backing and flatness: unroll samples on the intended flooring, check edge lift and movement underfoot, and test the backing for floor marking. Repeat the agreed checks after cleaning according to the proposed care instructions.
Labels and packing: compare fibre labels with the material specification, match any fire documents to the product, and check batch identification, dry wrapping and protection against crushed ends. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
Long runners can look straight while rolled but show bowed sides, wandering borders or twisted binding when laid out. Short cuts become obvious along a corridor. Backing shrinkage can lift corners, while weak tuft retention leaves bare patches in the walking path.
A backing that grips the factory floor may slide or mark the buyer's flooring. Compare production samples on the intended surface and retain an approved finished runner. Record shade batches so replacement runners can be compared with the original delivery.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on tufted carpet runners from China?
The relevant heading 5703 lines carry 8% duty in the supplied tariff record, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no duty suspensions.
What fibre label does a carpet runner need?
Show the fibre content on the label. Confirm with Trading Standards which fibre names to use and how to declare the use-surface composition. Check the label against the agreed material specification and supporting composition evidence.
Do tufted carpet runners need a fire report?
For runners supplied for fitting in buildings, obtain the declaration of performance and reaction to fire classification for the exact construction and backing.
How do I check whether a runner will slip?
Test a finished production sample on the intended flooring, including after the proposed cleaning process. Check movement, curling and floor marking against the approved sample.