Sourcing uncoated Bible paper from China
Uncoated Bible paper from China under heading 4802 carries 0% UK duty across the relevant lines, with no anti-dumping duty. For virgin wood-fibre paper placed on the Great Britain market, confirm any timber due diligence obligations with the relevant authority. Specify opacity, thickness and print performance. Cambridge China Bridge sources uncoated Bible paper.
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UK duty on uncoated Bible paper
Heading 4802 covers uncoated paper and paperboard for writing, printing and other graphic purposes in rolls or rectangular sheets. Uncoated Bible paper is a thin printing-paper grade within this heading. Its trade name alone does not determine the commodity code. For other printing grades, see the uncoated book paper guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the relevant lines carried 0% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. This does not remove timber due diligence obligations for paper made from virgin wood fibre.
The selected lines cover paper with no mechanical or chemi-mechanical fibres, or no more than 10% of total fibre weight from those processes. Below 40 g/m², the listed ordinary-paper line covers rolls and sheets. Heavier grades split by weight and format; the small-sheet line excludes the separately listed A4 format and requires sides not exceeding 435 mm and 297 mm. Confirm the commodity code using the mill's composition, grammage and dimensions.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated Bible paper below 40 g/m², low mechanical fibre | 4802 54 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Uncoated paper rolls, 40 to below 60 g/m², low mechanical fibre | 4802 55 15 90 | 0% | None |
| Other small uncoated sheets, 40 to 150 g/m², low mechanical fibre | 4802 56 80 00 | 0% | None |
| Other uncoated paper, including larger sheets, 40 to 150 g/m², low mechanical fibre | 4802 57 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify opacity, thickness and press performance
Agree grammage and tolerance, thickness, opacity, shade, surface smoothness, moisture and grain direction. Specify reel width, core size and winding, or sheet dimensions and cutting quality. Approve a sample printed on both sides with the intended ink and press, then folded and bound. Check reverse-side show-through, ink penetration, drying, page handling and finished book thickness.
For virgin wood-fibre paper first placed on the Great Britain market, confirm with the relevant authority whether the importer must carry out timber due diligence. Obtain the pulp source, tree species and country of harvest before shipment. Traders reselling timber products already on that market must keep records of their suppliers and the traders they supply.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 12 tonnes of uncoated Bible paper in reels, below 40 g/m² under 4802 54 00 90, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,000, so it is £4,800. 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
Paper properties: check grammage, thickness, opacity, shade and moisture against the approved sample and the mill's batch results.
Printing and binding: print both sides, inspect show-through and ink penetration, and check feeding, folding and page tearing on the intended equipment.
Reels and sheets: check reel edges, cores, winding and marked splices, or sheet size, grain direction, squareness and cutting dust.
Arrival condition: check moisture-barrier wrapping, crushed edges, water marks and mould; match batch labels to the test results and fibre documents. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A sample can look opaque before printing but show distracting text from the reverse after ink is applied. Thickness drift makes the bound book bulkier than expected. Weak paper tears during folding or page turning, while uneven moisture causes curl, feeding problems and reel breaks.
An approved sample may come from a different mill or furnish from the shipped batch. Tie the approval to the mill, fibre composition and batch records, and retain printed comparison samples. Check wrapping before loading and inspect arrival damage before moving the paper into production.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on uncoated Bible paper from China?
The relevant heading 4802 lines carried 0% duty in the supplied tariff facts, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures. The code depends on fibre composition, grammage and format.
Which commodity code covers Bible paper below 40 g/m²?
4802 54 00 90 is the candidate for ordinary uncoated printing paper below 40 g/m² with no more than 10% mechanical or chemi-mechanical fibre by total fibre weight. Confirm the actual specification.
Does uncoated Bible paper need timber due diligence?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether your virgin wood-fibre paper is covered by the UK Timber Regulations and whether the business first placing it on the Great Britain market, usually the importer, must carry out due diligence on its fibre source.
How do I check whether thin Bible paper prints properly?
Run a trial on the intended press with the intended ink. Print both sides, inspect show-through and ink penetration, then fold and bind the sample to check tearing, page handling and book thickness.