Sourcing wooden tea caddies from China

Duty by wood and construction

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 4420 covers wooden caskets and similar cases, alongside marquetry, inlaid wood and ornaments. For tea caddies classified as similar wooden cases, other wood carries 0% duty from China and specified tropical wood 2%. The marquetry and inlaid wood line carries 4%; confirm whether that line describes the finished article. The supplied lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.

The tariff attaches CITES import controls, with ivory import controls on some relevant lines. For CITES-controlled timber from China, arrange the applicable British import and Chinese export documentation before shipment. For listed ivory, check registration or exemption certification before taking ownership; ask your customs broker to confirm the import-control documents. Specify no ivory inlay or fittings. The cultural-property licence and other export controls recorded in the tariff concern exports rather than this import purchase.

Confirm the commodity code using the species, construction, decoration and intended use, rather than the supplier's description alone. Our wooden boxes and carved ornaments guide covers the wider heading.

Specify the tea contact surface and closure

State whether the caddy holds loose tea directly, sealed tea bags or a removable inner container. Specify the timber species, solid wood or veneered construction, internal dimensions, compartment layout, removable dividers and lid mechanism. Identify the material of any liner, inner container and seal. Approve a sample using the tea bags or inner container you intend to supply.

Materials intended to contact food must be safe and suitable for their intended use. For loose tea, ask for evidence covering the actual contact surface, including its finish, adhesive and liner where relevant. Agree storage and cleaning conditions, and ask a laboratory to assess appropriate testing through testing and certification. A supplier's generic food-safe statement should prompt questions about the materials it covers.

Agree moisture content at packing, finish colour, grain variation, hinge positioning and the acceptable closing gap. If you want an airtight caddy, specify the seal and an agreed way to verify the claim. Compare the approved sample's internal odour, lid operation and compartment fit before authorising production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 wooden tea caddies; illustrative order, not a quote under 4420 90 99 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,800, so it is £1,960. 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: check the declared species and applicable CITES paperwork; measure moisture content against the agreed specification and inspect for mould, insect holes, splits and warped lids.

Interior: inspect corners and dividers for splinters, glue squeeze-out and loose particles. Check liner attachment and cured finishes; compare odour with the approved sample.

Closure: operate hinges and clasps, check screw security and lid alignment, and test the agreed seal performance. Fit the intended tea bags or removable container.

Packing and arrival: check protection for corners, lids and decorative surfaces. On arrival, inspect for damp cartons, mould and sticking lids before releasing stock. Use the agreed inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Damp timber can warp, split or grow mould during transport. Misaligned hinges leave lids rubbing or unable to close, while loose dividers catch tea bags. Uncured lacquer and unevenly glued linings cause odour, tackiness and lifting edges. Record defects against the approved sample and agreed specification.

A decorative box may look suitable for tea while its contact surface remains unspecified. Settle loose-tea use, liners and finishes before ordering, and review the supporting evidence before shipment. Treat an airtight claim as a performance question to verify, rather than assuming a close-fitting wooden lid provides a seal.

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.