Sourcing woven abaca rugs from China

8% duty on the listed abaca lines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5702 covers woven textile floor coverings, not tufted or flocked. Abaca is also called Manila hemp. The listed Manila-hemp lines carry 8% duty from China, whether pile or flatwoven and made up or not. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded for these lines.

The tariff attaches an import control on cat and dog fur. Imports of that fur and products containing it are banned, including goods from China. Ask for the full material breakdown, including trim. The listed lines also attach cultural-object export licensing and cat-and-dog-fur export controls; the unfinished pile line additionally carries an export CITES control. These are export entries. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable declaration requirements.

For a finished flatwoven abaca rug, start by checking 5702 99 00 30 against the actual construction and materials. Confirm the commodity code before ordering, particularly for blends or unfinished rolls. For the wider heading, see woven sisal rugs.

Specify the abaca weave, border and backing

Specify abaca content in the use surface, warp material, weave pattern, yarn thickness, colour range, dimensions and agreed tolerances. Record whether the rug is flatwoven or has pile. Describe the border material, binding width, corner finish and backing separately. Keep an approved sample showing acceptable natural colour variation and surface texture.

Confirm with the relevant authority how floor-covering fibre labels should describe the use surface and which consumer-product safety requirements apply to rugs sold in Great Britain. Assess loose strands, raised borders and backing movement. Agree care instructions against cleaning trials rather than copying another rug's label. For fitted flooring or contract supply, ask the buyer for the required fire-performance documentation before approving the construction.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 finished flatwoven abaca rugs under 5702 99 00 30, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,960 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,960. Duty at 8% is £476.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,436.80, so it is £1,287.36. Import taxes total £1,764.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £476.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fibre and weave: compare the material declaration and surface with the approved sample; check for substituted fibres, open weave, loose strands and uneven tension.

Size and edges: measure dimensions and squareness; lay rugs flat and check border stitching, corner joins, fraying and curling.

Backing and colour: check adhesion and odour; test movement and marking on the intended flooring, and colour transfer during rubbing and the agreed cleaning trial.

Labels and packing: check use-surface fibre information, care instructions and batch identification; inspect for dampness, musty smells and crushed edges. Agree the checks using our inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A sample described as abaca can be replaced by a blend or a different natural fibre in production. Loose weave and uneven tension leave gaps or distorted outlines. Poor binding frays, bulky corner joins lift, and backing changes can cause slipping, floor marking or curling.

Natural colour variation becomes a problem when the supplier has no agreed acceptance sample. Damp packing can arrive with staining or a musty smell. Compare production samples with the approved rug, trial the proposed cleaning method and check packing condition before dispatch; repeat the flatness and condition checks on arrival.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.