Sourcing willow pet baskets from China

Willow pet basket duty and classification

Heading 4602 covers basketwork and wickerwork made directly to shape from plaiting materials or assembled from goods of heading 4601. This guide concerns woven willow pet baskets supplied without cushions, padding or upholstery. For the wider heading, see our wicker laundry basket guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, both relevant willow lines carry 2% duty for goods from China: 4602 19 90 10 for hand-made articles and 4602 19 90 90 for other articles. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. The table repeats these codes for cat and dog basket variants.

Send your broker photographs, the material specification and details of how the basket is made. Confirm the commodity code before ordering, particularly if the supplier substitutes another material or adds a cushion.

Specify the usable sleeping space and exposed weave

Specify willow rather than a generic wicker description. State that the basket is supplied unpadded, and agree internal sleeping dimensions, external footprint, entrance shape, rim height and base construction. Measure the usable space inside the sloping walls, rather than relying on the outside rim dimensions.

Approve a sample with smooth trimmed ends, secure rim binding and a base that sits flat. Record the finish, intended pet size and cleaning method. Ask the factory to describe its drying process and agree a moisture acceptance limit before packing.

Assess exposed splinters, loose binding and parts that could detach during foreseeable handling. Keep the approved sample and inspection records with the product specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 hand-made unpadded willow pet baskets under 4602 19 90 10, 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 2% is £184. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,384, so it is £1,876.80. Import taxes total £2,060.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £184 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Weave and rim: feel along the inside, entrance and underside for sharp ends; check for cracked rods, loose binding and exposed fixings.

Size and stability: measure the internal sleeping space against the approved drawing; check that the base sits flat and does not rock.

Moisture and packing: check sampled baskets against the agreed moisture limit; look for mould, musty smells, insect holes and crushed rims.

Identification and care: compare product identification, importer contact details and cleaning advice with the approved artwork. Use the same checks for quality inspection before shipment and on arrival.

What goes wrong

A basket can match the quoted outside dimensions yet have too little sleeping space because its walls taper sharply. Rough rod ends snag fabric and scratch hands, while weak rim binding loosens during handling. Compare production baskets with the approved sample, including their internal dimensions and underside finish.

Damp baskets packed tightly together can arrive mouldy, and nested baskets can distort or crush the entrance rim. Agree drying and packing with the factory, inspect before loading and open cartons on arrival. Keep affected goods separate while you record damage and assess the batch.

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.