Sourcing wooden trellis panels from China
Wooden garden trellis panels provisionally classified under 4421 99 99 99 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no recorded trade remedy or suspension. Check the timber species: CITES-controlled specimens require import documentation. Consumer products must be safe. Cambridge China Bridge sources wooden garden trellis panels.
Duty and controls for wooden trellis panels
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 4421 covers other articles of wood. Finished wooden garden trellis panels are a candidate for 4421 99 99 99. The table separates framed and unframed designs sharing that candidate code, alongside material alternatives. Fibreboard classification does not establish suitability for outdoor use.
The listed candidate lines carry 0% ordinary duty from China, with no recorded trade remedy or suspension. The wooden-article line attaches CITES import control and a conditional import prohibition concerning goods for torture and repression. Confirm the latter's applicability with your customs broker. Export licence and export restriction entries also appear in the file; ask the broker to distinguish these from import requirements.
For CITES-controlled timber, confirm the applicable documentation with APHA and obtain the corresponding documentation from China's management authority. An item made from a protected plant can itself be a specimen. Confirm the commodity code using the species, material and construction. See construction materials for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other wooden articles: framed garden trellis panels, subject to classification | 4421 99 99 99 | 0% | None |
| Bamboo articles: bamboo trellis alternatives, subject to classification | 4421 91 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Fibreboard articles: fibreboard lattice alternatives, subject to classification | 4421 99 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the lattice, frame and outdoor finish
State the timber species, panel dimensions, slat width and thickness, lattice opening, frame section and joint design. Identify whether the panel supports climbing plants, screens a boundary or attaches to a wall. Agree fixing positions and the installation instructions against the intended use.
Specify preservative treatment, coating colour, end-grain coverage and the evidence supporting outdoor durability claims. Agree acceptable knots, splits, moisture and distortion against an approved sample. Ask for species and harvest-origin documents rather than accepting a description such as mixed wood.
Businesses importing or selling consumer products must ensure they are safe and follow applicable labelling requirements. For trellis panels, assess splinters, projecting fasteners and attachment failure. Arrange inspection against the agreed drawing and sample.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 wooden garden trellis panels 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
Dimensions: measure the panel, frame, slats and lattice openings; compare diagonals and check panels fit the intended fixing layout.
Joints and fasteners: check loose intersections, frame movement, split slat ends and projecting nails or staples; test sample attachments against the agreed use.
Timber and finish: check species consistency, moisture, mould, warping, splinters, exposed end grain and uneven treatment or coating.
Packing and arrival: check corner protection, bundle restraint and separation between panels; inspect delivered bundles for crushing, rubbing and trapped moisture.
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What goes wrong
Thin slats split around staples, frames rack during handling and wet timber dries into twisted panels. Coating can hide rough timber while leaving cut ends exposed. Compare production panels with the approved sample and record defects before unpacking the whole delivery.
A factory may substitute timber without updating the species documents, leaving the CITES check unresolved. Confirm species before committing to the order. Keep damaged or questionable panels separate while the supplier investigates, and retain photographs of the panels and packing.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on wooden garden trellis panels from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% for candidate code 4421 99 99 99, with no trade remedy or suspension. Confirm the finished panel's classification before ordering.
Do wooden trellis panels need CITES documents?
The candidate code attaches CITES control. Whether documents are needed depends on the timber species and specimen. Confirm the applicable documents with APHA before ordering.
What should I specify for outdoor trellis panels?
Specify timber species, slat and frame sections, lattice openings, joints, fixings, treatment, coating and installation instructions. Agree acceptable moisture and distortion against a sample.
What should I check when trellis panels arrive?
Check panel dimensions, squareness, loose joints, projecting fasteners, splits, mould and warping. Photograph damaged bundles and compare the finish with the approved sample.