Sourcing basket-weaving willow rods from China

Duty on unworked willow rods

Heading 1401 covers vegetable materials used primarily for plaiting, including osier willow. Unworked willow rods for basket weaving fall within the supplied 'Other' line, 1401 90 00 00. This guide concerns weaving material rather than finished baskets. See the wider bamboo canes and rattan guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 November 2026, the supplied willow line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control of organic products. The importer should confirm the requirement for this material with their customs broker, particularly before ordering stock described as organic.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual material and its degree of processing. The table contains the sole supplied line relevant to willow rods; bamboo and rattan lines have been excluded. For the calculation method, see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify willow for the intended weave

State the willow species or variety, whether bark is retained, and whether the rods are fresh or dried. Agree length grades, butt diameter, taper, straightness and acceptable branching against a retained sample. Specify whole rods for weaving rather than planting material, and agree how bundles are identified and counted.

Ask the supplier to describe drying and any chemical treatment. Check Great Britain plant-health requirements for the exact material and processing before shipment, and ask the plant-health authority or your customs broker whether a phytosanitary certificate and pre-notification are needed. Willow described as dried should not be assumed exempt without checking its condition and applicable risk category.

If rods have been treated with a biocidal insecticide or preservative, check that the active substances are permitted for the relevant use, including applicable transitional provisions, and meet any applicable labelling requirements before supply. Ask for treatment details tied to the batch. Use small-order sourcing to assess a weaving sample before committing to bulk stock.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: bundled unworked willow rods for a basket-making workshop under 1401 90 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,000, so it is £2,400. 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

Grading: open bundles from different parts of the load and compare length, butt diameter, taper and branching with the approved sample.

Weaving performance: prepare samples using your workshop's usual soaking method, then check bending, splitting and surface damage during a trial weave.

Condition: inspect bundle centres for dampness, mould, insect holes and fresh bore dust; compare moisture readings with the agreed specification.

Packing and records: check bundle counts, batch identification, protected rod ends and correspondence between the goods, treatment records and any required import documents.

What goes wrong

Mixed grades make a weave uneven and leave the workshop sorting stock before use. Excessive branching, damaged tips and rods that split during bending reduce usable yield. An attractive outer layer can conceal short, thick or damaged rods inside a bundle, so inspect opened bundles rather than photographs alone.

Damp packing can conceal mould until arrival. A dry sample also cannot establish the condition of the shipped batch. Record the agreed moisture condition and weaving preparation, and resolve any difference between the ordered dried material and the supplier's proposed fresh rods before loading.

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.