Sourcing wooden curtain poles from China

Duty and the finished pole

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 4421 covers other articles of wood. The residual line 4421 99 99 99 carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension. The table shows product variants against that same line, rather than separate tariff categories. Confirm that the finished pole belongs there before ordering. For wooden phone stands, see our wooden phone stand sourcing guide.

That line attaches CITES import control and an import prohibition on goods for torture and repression. For timber within CITES scope, permits are required for species listed in the relevant annexes; confirm the paperwork for the species and finished article with your customs broker. The tariff also records cultural-object and torture-related export controls. Ask your broker to confirm the applicability of the attached controls to the declared goods.

Send the material description, manufacturing details, photographs and contents of each set to your broker when confirming the commodity code. Describe separate rings, brackets and finials individually. For the wider window-covering range, see curtains and blinds.

Specify the pole and its fittings together

Specify the timber species, solid or jointed construction, finished length and diameter, straightness tolerance, colour and coating. Agree how knots, filled defects and visible joints will be judged. Keep an approved sample of the pole, finial and ring together so colour matching is assessed across the set.

Specify bracket projection, pole seating, joint connectors, finial attachment and the intended curtain load. Agree a load test using the proposed bracket spacing and mounting arrangement. General product safety rules require safe consumer products on the Great Britain market; include clear fitting instructions covering the intended wall fixing and support arrangement.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 finished wooden curtain poles under 4421 99 99 99, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,500, so it is £4,300. 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

Timber and shape: check species documents, moisture against the agreed specification, straightness, splits and knots at joints or fixing points.

Fit and strength: assemble the pole, connectors, brackets and finials; check ring clearance and load-test the agreed installation.

Finish: compare poles, rings and finials with the approved sample; check rough grain, splinters, coating runs and rubbing marks.

Packing: check fitting counts, protected ends and separation between painted parts; inspect arrival cartons for crushing and moisture. Record findings through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Poles can arrive bowed, split around finial screws or sag at the connector. Rings catch on raised grain or an uneven joint, while brackets supplied with the set do not seat the pole properly. Check assembled production samples rather than approving the pole and fittings separately.

Colour differences become obvious when rings and finials sit beside the pole. Tight packing can rub the finish, and damp cartons can leave stained or mouldy wood. Agree protection for each component and compare arrival stock with the retained sample before releasing it for sale.

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.