Sourcing Wicker Picnic Baskets from China

UK duty on wicker picnic baskets

Heading 4602 covers basketwork and wickerwork made directly to shape from plaiting materials or assembled from goods of heading 4601, and articles of loofah. This guide focuses on empty willow and rattan picnic baskets. The gift hamper baskets and packaging guide covers the wider buying context.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the listed willow and rattan basket lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. The heading's 0% bottle-envelope line and 4% other-material line are outside these selected natural-wicker baskets.

Confirm the material and whether the basket is hand-made before choosing a commodity code. Give your customs broker photographs, the material specification and the full contents list if plates, cutlery or other accessories are supplied with it.

Specify the basket, lid and carrying load

Name the material as willow or rattan rather than simply wicker. Specify internal dimensions, lid opening, base shape, weave density, handle attachment, hinges and closure straps. Agree a carrying load and a sample test using the intended picnic contents. If a liner or insulated insert is included, check that it can be removed and refitted without catching on the weave.

Importers must demonstrate compliance with relevant safety requirements. Keep the approved sample, load-test results and checks for splinters, exposed fixings and trapped fingers together as buying evidence.

State whether the basket carries wrapped food or whether its liner will touch unwrapped food. A liner intended for direct food contact needs evidence of suitability for that use. Keep unlined willow away from unwrapped food. Specify the liner material, cleaning method and attachment so the factory quotes the same construction you approved.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 empty willow wicker picnic baskets under 4602 19 90 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £31,200. Duty at 2% is £624. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £31,824, so it is £6,364.80. Import taxes total £6,988.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £624 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Handles and closures: load the basket with the agreed contents, lift and carry it, and check for movement at handle anchors, broken strands and straps pulling free.

Lid and finish: open and close the lid, check hinge alignment and latch engagement, and inspect cut ends, exposed fasteners and rough edges for snagging.

Moisture and pests: measure moisture against the agreed limit, check for mould, musty odours, insect holes and loose dust, and ask the factory to identify any anti-mould treatment.

Liner and packing: check seams, fit and removal, compare food-contact evidence with the supplied material where relevant, and inspect arrival cartons for crushed lids and distorted bases. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A basket can look sound while empty but fail when bottles and picnic contents load the handles. Weak anchors pull out, closure straps detach and an uneven base makes the basket rock. Test the complete approved construction, including its liner, rather than accepting a weave sample alone.

Damp willow or rattan packed into closed cartons can arrive mouldy. Tight packing distorts lids, while rough ends snag fabric liners. Agree the drying and packing method, retain the approved sample and record arrival defects before distributing the stock.

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.