Sourcing tufted polyester carpets from China
Tufted polyester carpets from China carry a flat 8% UK import duty, with no anti-dumping duty in the supplied tariff snapshot. Carpets for installation in buildings need a declaration of performance and appropriate conformity marking. Cambridge China Bridge sources tufted polyester carpets.
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A flat 8% duty on polyester carpets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, heading 5703 covers tufted carpets and other tufted textile floor coverings. Polyester carpet tiles with a maximum surface area of 1 m² fall within 5703 39 91 00; other polyester tufted carpets fall within 5703 39 99 00. The table separates product formats sharing these codes.
Both relevant lines carry 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, no suspension and no import control on these lines. It does list a cultural-goods export licence measure; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance if subsequently exporting the goods.
Confirm the commodity code using the pile fibre, tufted construction and tile dimensions. For comparison within the wider heading, see tufted nylon carpets. Use the import duty and VAT guide when comparing landed costs.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester tufted loop-pile carpet tiles, maximum tile area 1 m² | 5703 39 91 00 | 8% | None |
| Polyester tufted broadloom carpet | 5703 39 99 00 | 8% | None |
Specify polyester pile and backing together
State the polyester pile composition, cut or loop construction, pile height, pile mass, colour reference, roll width or tile dimensions, backing material and edge finish. Agree tolerances against an approved sample. Specify the intended room and traffic conditions, cleaning method and installation adhesive before choosing the construction.
For carpets supplied for installation in buildings in Great Britain, confirm with the relevant building-products authority whether the exact product requires a declaration of performance, reaction to fire classification and CE or UKCA marking. Match the backing and construction to the supporting report. Fibre labels must show fibre content; confirm with Trading Standards how to declare the composition of the use surface.
REACH restrictions address chemical risks in articles as well as substances and mixtures. Ask the supplier for information on dyes, backing compounds and treatments so that applicable restrictions can be checked. Agree any targeted testing through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5,000 square metres of tufted polyester broadloom carpet under 5703 39 99 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,500. Duty at 8% is £1,960. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,460, so it is £5,292. Import taxes total £7,252; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,960 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Pile and fibre: compare pile composition, height, mass and tuft retention with the approved specification; check for missing tufts and exposed backing.
Backing and shape: inspect backing adhesion, edge finish and flatness; check tiles for curling and gaps, and rolls for rippling after unrolling.
Colour and dimensions: compare rolls and tiles side by side in the same pile direction; measure widths, lengths and squareness, and retain batch references.
Documents and packing: match fibre labels and building-use performance documents to the actual construction; inspect wrapping, roll cores and cartons for crushing, damp and contamination.
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What goes wrong
A soft polyester sample can conceal low pile mass or weak tuft retention. Production then looks thin, sheds tufts or flattens differently from the approved sample. Backing substitutions can cause delamination, curling and persistent odour. Check the finished construction rather than accepting a yarn sample alone.
Shade differences become conspicuous when adjoining rolls or tiles come from different batches or face different directions. Ask for a trial layout before dispatch and compare arrival samples before installation. Keep product, backing and batch references together so that complaints can be traced.
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 polyester carpets from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 8% for the relevant polyester carpet lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension.
Which commodity code covers tufted polyester carpet?
Polyester carpet tiles up to 1 m² fall within 5703 39 91 00; other tufted polyester carpets fall within 5703 39 99 00. Confirm construction, fibre and dimensions before declaring.
Do polyester carpets for buildings need fire documents?
For installation in buildings in Great Britain, obtain the declaration of performance and reaction to fire classification for the exact construction, with appropriate CE or UKCA marking.
Does the fibre label describe the backing too?
For textile floor coverings, confirm with Trading Standards how the fibre-labelling requirements apply to the use surface. Check the polyester pile claim against the actual material, and specify backing separately in the purchase order.