Sourcing woven cotton dhurrie rugs from China
Woven cotton dhurrie rugs from China have a potential duty range of 2% to 8%: qualifying hand-woven rugs attract 2%, while other cotton flatwoven lines carry 8%. Consumer rugs sold in Great Britain must be safe and accurately fibre-labelled. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven cotton dhurrie rugs.
Cotton dhurrie duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5702 covers woven textile floor coverings, excluding tufted or flocked construction. The supplied snapshot records 2% for qualifying kelem and similar hand-woven rugs and 8% for the other flatwoven cotton classification candidates shown here. It records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions for these lines. The name dhurrie alone does not establish eligibility for the hand-woven line.
The residual cotton flatwoven lines attach cat and dog fur import and export controls. Imports and exports of products containing that fur are banned, including goods from China. The snapshot also lists a DCMS export-licence entry and an export CITES control on the pile comparison line. The cultural-interest licence concerns export from Great Britain; ask your customs broker to confirm the relevance and declaration response for each attached entry.
Confirm the commodity code using the weave, fibre composition, hand or machine production and whether the goods are made up. The cotton pile row is a comparison to exclude from a flatwoven dhurrie declaration. For the wider product family, see woven kilim rugs.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelem and similar hand-woven rugs; check eligibility of hand-woven dhurries | 5702 10 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Other textile flatwoven floor coverings, not made up; cotton classification candidate | 5702 50 90 90 | 8% | None |
| Other textile flatwoven floor coverings, made up; cotton classification candidate | 5702 99 00 90 | 8% | None |
| Cotton pile floor coverings, not made up; comparison only, not flatwoven dhurries | 5702 39 00 30 | 8% | None |
Specify the cotton weave, edges and care
Agree the warp and weft fibre composition, yarn thickness, weave density, finished dimensions and whether measurements include fringe. Specify the pattern repeat, stripe alignment, colour reference, edge binding and fringe attachment. Keep an approved sample showing the face and reverse. Ask for production photographs before accepting a hand-woven claim.
Consumer rugs supplied in Great Britain must be safe, and textile labels must show fibre content. Confirm with Trading Standards which components of the floor covering must be covered by the fibre-content label. Agree care instructions from cleaning trials on the finished rug, including fringe and any backing. Specify whether an underlay will be supplied and test any anti-slip claim.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 woven cotton dhurrie rugs, illustrative wholesale stock order under 5702 99 00 90, invoiced at £45,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £50,000. Duty at 8% is £4,000. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £54,000, so it is £10,800. Import taxes total £14,800; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £4,000 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Weave and shape: compare face and reverse with the approved sample; check weave density, missing picks, bowed stripes, dimensions and squareness.
Edges and fringe: check binding security, loose yarns and fringe attachment; lay rugs flat after unpacking and look for curling corners or raised hems.
Colour and cleaning: check dry and damp rubbing, colour transfer onto pale flooring, and bleeding or distortion after the agreed cleaning method.
Labels and packing: compare fibre evidence with the use-surface label; check care instructions, design identification, dampness and musty odour. Use the inspection guide to organise the checks.
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What goes wrong
Loose weaving can leave gaps and distort stripes. Uneven tension produces skewed rectangles, while bulky hems and folded packing leave corners raised. Dark cotton yarn can transfer colour onto pale floors, and cleaning can shrink the body differently from the fringe or backing.
A sample may use different yarn or tighter weaving than the shipment. Compare production rugs with the retained sample before dispatch, then repeat flatness, colour-transfer and cleaning checks on arrival. Keep suspect batches separate while the supplier investigates. Obtain testing support where fibre claims or performance results need independent checking.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cotton dhurrie rugs from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 2% for qualifying hand-woven rugs and 8% for other cotton flatwoven lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures. Confirm the construction and code.
Does a hand-woven cotton dhurrie automatically qualify for the lower duty?
Do not assume eligibility from the product name or supplier claim. Confirm whether the actual construction fits the kelem and similar hand-woven rug line.
Can cotton dhurrie rugs be sold as washable?
Agree the cleaning method after testing the finished rug. Check colour bleeding, shrinkage, fringe distortion and whether the rug still lies flat after drying.
What fibre label does a cotton dhurrie need?
Show the fibre composition of the use surface accurately. Check the supplier's fibre evidence against the finished rug before approving a cotton claim.