Sourcing washing machines from China
Front-loading, top-loading and larger washing machines from China pay 2% UK duty, as do their parts, with no anti-dumping duty. Mains-operated household washing machines and washer-dryers, including built-in ones, fall under Chapter 4 of the 2021 ecodesign regulations, so the factory needs test data for the GB requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources own-brand and compact washing machines.
Household and commercial washing machines pay 2% UK duty from China. Mains household machines fall under the 2021 ecodesign rules; plumbing and spares to plan.
Duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, household washing machines up to 6 kg dry linen capacity, front or top loading, machines of 6 to 10 kg, machines with a built-in spin drier, machines over 10 kg and parts all carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Washing machines are bulky and heavy, so the container load decides much of the landed price; ask for the carton size and container quantity with the quote.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully automatic, up to 6 kg, front-loading | 8450 11 11 00 | 2% | None |
| Fully automatic, up to 6 kg, top-loading | 8450 11 19 00 | 2% | None |
| Fully automatic, over 6 kg up to 10 kg | 8450 11 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Other machines with built-in centrifugal drier | 8450 12 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Machines over 10 kg dry linen capacity | 8450 20 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Parts | 8450 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Ecodesign for household machines
Regulation 21 of the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 applies Chapter 4 to electric mains-operated household washing machines and washer-dryers, including built-in machines and machines that can also run on batteries. It excludes machines covered by the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and battery-operated machines that connect to the mains only through a separately bought converter; the requirements themselves are set in Schedules 9 to 12.
A factory that sells the same model into markets without these rules may not have tested it for them. Ask for the test report against the GB requirements for the exact model, and the product information and label data for the UK market, before the order.
UK plumbing and electrics
UK machines connect to a cold water supply with a standard threaded hose and a standpipe or sink waste, and plug into a 13 A socket through a fused BS 1363 plug. Specify the inlet hose, drain hose length and plug for the UK, and check them on the first samples. Water supplied through the machine is subject to the Water Fittings Regulations on backflow.
Compact and portable machines for caravans and small flats are a growing niche; the same checks apply, and the claimed capacity should be tested with a real load.
Transit bolts, spares and service
Drums are fixed with transit bolts for shipping, and a machine run with them in place destroys itself, so the removal instructions must be prominent and in English. Check drum bearings, door seals and the drain pump on samples at inspection, with a full wash and spin cycle.
Door seals, pumps, belts and control boards should come with the first order. Cambridge China Bridge sources own-brand and compact washing machines with the ecodesign data, UK fittings and spares agreed before production. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on washing machines from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, household and larger washing machines and their parts carried 2% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do washing machines have to meet UK ecodesign rules?
Mains-operated household washing machines and washer-dryers do, under Chapter 4 of the 2021 Ecodesign Regulations, with the requirements in Schedules 9 to 12.
What should be specified for the UK?
The inlet and drain hoses, a fused BS 1363 plug, English instructions for removing transit bolts, and the UK label and product information data.
What spares should come with the first order?
Door seals, drain pumps, belts and control boards, so machines can be repaired under warranty.