Sourcing uPVC external doors from China

6% duty on plastic external doors

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3925 covers builders' ware of plastics, not elsewhere specified or included. Plastic doors, their frames and door thresholds fall within 3925 20 00 00. The table separates these goods for purchasing purposes; they share the same commodity line.

The supplied tariff record shows 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases to the door line. Products containing banned fluorinated gases must not be placed on the Great Britain market. Ask for the insulation composition and confirm the applicable declaration requirement with your customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code against the complete door construction and any separately shipped fittings. Metal hardware and mixed-material doors need their own classification check. For comparison with wooden doors, see our wooden doors and engineered flooring guide.

Specify the complete external doorset

Specify the outer frame dimensions, opening direction, hinge side, profile construction, reinforcement, welded corners, panel or glazing arrangement, threshold, drainage and weather seals. Identify the lock, cylinder, hinges, handles and finish. Use an approved drawing that shows the viewing side, so the factory and installer interpret handing alike.

Agree thermal, air leakage, water penetration and wind resistance performance for the intended installation. Request the declaration of performance and supporting reports for the actual doorset configuration, including glazing, reinforcement and hardware. Where CE marking has been legitimately affixed, the product can continue to be supplied to the Great Britain market.

Approve a working sample in its frame. Check operation, seal compression, threshold drainage and replacement hardware availability. Keep fire or security claims tied to evidence for the supplied configuration. Use testing and certification support to check the proposed document pack.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 glazed uPVC external doors with frames; illustrative order only under 3925 20 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 6% is £1,170. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,670, so it is £4,134. Import taxes total £5,304; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,170 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions: check frame size, diagonals, opening direction and hinge side against the approved drawing.

Operation: open and close the door, engage every locking point and check hinges, handle movement and seal contact.

Construction: inspect welded corners, reinforcement evidence, drainage openings, glazing seating, gaskets and surface finish.

Documents and packing: match product identification to the agreed performance documents; inspect corner protection, glazing protection and transport damage. Arrange quality inspection before shipment.

What goes wrong

Wrong handing, distorted frames, poor corner welds and misaligned locks can make an otherwise matching door unusable. Interrupted gaskets and obstructed drainage can cause leaks. Transport pressure can bow frames or damage glazing edges. Record defects before fitting and compare the delivered configuration with the approved sample.

A report for another profile, glazing arrangement or hardware set does not establish the agreed performance of your order. Require approval before substitutions. An external entrance door should not be bought as a fire door solely because the supplier describes it that way.

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.