Sourcing woven seagrass rugs from China
Woven seagrass rugs classified in the relevant other-textile lines of heading 5702 carry 8% UK duty from China; the wider heading ranges from 2% to 8%. Consumer rugs must be safe in Great Britain. Confirm the material and construction before choosing a code. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven seagrass rugs.
Seagrass candidates: 8% duty
Heading 5702 covers woven textile floor coverings, not tufted or flocked. For seagrass rugs, establish the actual plant material, fibre preparation and construction before confirming the commodity code. The table compares other-textile lines: finished flatwoven rugs, unfinished material and pile alternatives. It does not establish that every product sold as seagrass belongs here. For the wider heading, see the woven sisal rugs guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, all listed candidate lines carried 8% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The wider heading ranges from 2% to 8%. The snapshot attaches cat and dog fur import controls: such fur and products made from it are banned. It also lists cultural-object and fur export controls; confirm their relevance with your customs broker if re-exporting.
The pile line 5702 39 00 90 also has a CITES import control attached. Identify the plant species and any animal materials; CITES permit requirements depend on the species. Ask your customs broker to confirm the required documents for the actual China-origin goods before shipment. Import VAT is normally 20%; use the duty and VAT guide when costing the order.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other textile materials, flatwoven, made up | 5702 99 00 90 | 8% | None |
| Other textile materials, flatwoven, not made up | 5702 50 90 90 | 8% | None |
| Other textile materials, pile construction, made up | 5702 49 00 90 | 8% | None |
| Other textile materials, pile construction, not made up | 5702 39 00 90 | 8% | None |
Specify the seagrass weave, binding and backing
Ask for the plant species, material composition and a close-up of the weave. Specify the weave pattern, finished dimensions, thickness, border fabric, corner stitching and backing material. Approve a physical sample and an acceptable range of natural colour variation. Agree how loose ends, joins and repairs will be assessed.
Consumer rugs supplied in Great Britain must meet general product safety requirements. Textile labels must show fibre content; confirm with the relevant authority how the composition should be declared for this floor covering. Confirm the label wording against the actual material rather than copying a supplier's sales description. Specify care instructions supported by trials on the finished rug, and test any anti-slip claim.
For contract supply, agree the buyer's fire-performance specification and obtain a report matching the weave, binding and backing. Arrange testing and certification support before accepting a report for a different construction.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 50 finished woven seagrass rugs under 5702 99 00 90, 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
Weave and surface: compare density, pattern and colour with the approved sample; look for broken strands, open gaps, protruding ends and visible repairs.
Shape and binding: measure finished dimensions and squareness, unroll the rug on a flat floor, and check curling, ripples, border alignment and corner stitching.
Backing and floors: check adhesion and odour, test movement on intended flooring, and leave a sample in contact with that flooring to check for marking.
Moisture and packing: inspect for dampness, mould, musty odour and crushed rolls; check care labels and batch identification against the order. Use an agreed inspection brief.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Problems to look for include uneven weave tension, curling borders, brittle strands and gaps hidden by the supplier's photographs. Natural colour variation can become an unacceptable mismatch when rugs are packed from different batches. Compare production samples with the approved colour range rather than a photograph alone.
Damp packing can leave rugs musty or mouldy, while backing changes can alter adhesion, odour and floor marking. Do not approve a replacement backing from its appearance alone. Keep affected stock separate, record the batch and condition, and agree corrective action before dispatching it to customers.
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 woven seagrass rugs from China?
The listed other-textile lines in heading 5702 carry 8% duty from China in the supplied tariff snapshot. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded for these lines. Confirm the exact code.
Which commodity code should I use for a finished seagrass rug?
5702 99 00 90 is a candidate for a finished, non-pile woven rug of other textile materials. Ask your broker to confirm the actual material and construction; the name seagrass alone does not establish the code.
Do woven seagrass rugs need a CITES permit?
The snapshot attaches CITES import control to 5702 39 00 90. Identify the species and all materials, then ask your broker to confirm whether CITES documents are needed for the actual goods.
What should I check when seagrass rugs arrive?
Unroll samples and check dimensions, flatness, weave gaps, broken strands, border stitching and backing adhesion. Look for dampness or mould, compare colour with the approved sample and check floor marking.