Sourcing woven tapestry rugs from China
Woven tapestry floor rugs from China carry 2% to 8% UK duty across the relevant lines, with 2% reserved for qualifying hand-woven types. Consumer rugs sold in Great Britain must be safe, and fibre labels must show fibre content; confirm the use-surface labelling requirements with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven tapestry rugs.
Duty depends on the weave and fibre
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5702 covers woven textile floor coverings, not tufted or flocked. This guide concerns tapestry rugs for floor use. The relevant finished flatwoven wool, polypropylene, other man-made fibre and other textile lines carry 8% duty from China. Qualifying Kelem, Schumacks, Karamanie and similar hand-woven rugs carry 2%. A tapestry pattern alone does not establish that classification.
The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions on these lines. They attach CITES import control to the wool or fine animal hair line and cat and dog fur import control to the other textile line. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import. Identify animal species and confirm CITES documentation with your customs broker. The tariff also lists cultural-object and relevant CITES or fur export controls; confirm their application with your broker before re-export.
Confirm the commodity code using the actual weave, fibre and finished form. Ask the supplier for face and reverse photographs, fibre composition and evidence supporting any hand-woven claim. See the wider woven rugs guide for other constructions and materials.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelem, Schumacks, Karamanie and similar hand-woven rugs | 5702 10 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Made-up flatwoven rugs of wool or fine animal hair | 5702 91 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Made-up flatwoven polypropylene rugs | 5702 92 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Made-up flatwoven rugs of other man-made fibres | 5702 92 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Made-up flatwoven rugs of other textile materials | 5702 99 00 90 | 8% | None |
Specify the woven picture and floor use
Agree whether the design is woven into the rug or printed onto it. Specify the face yarn, warp, weave density, finished dimensions, fringe treatment, edge binding and backing. Approve a physical sample showing the complete motif and border, rather than accepting a photograph of part of the design.
Consumer rugs sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Fibre labelling must show fibre content; confirm the use-surface labelling requirements with the relevant authority. Agree care instructions after cleaning trials, and test any anti-slip claim on the intended flooring. For carpets supplied for fitting in buildings, confirm any applicable construction-product performance and fire-class requirements with the relevant authority; settle that intended use before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 50 wool tapestry rugs, illustrative order under 5702 91 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £1,960 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,960. Duty at 8% is £556.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,516.80, so it is £1,503.36. Import taxes total £2,060.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £556.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Pattern: compare the full motif, border position, colour balance and visible reverse with the approved sample; look for missing yarns, loose floats and distorted figures.
Shape: measure finished dimensions and squareness after unpacking; lay rugs on a level floor and check curled corners, ripples, fringe security and edge stitching.
Colour and cleaning: check dry and damp rubbing, then clean samples using the proposed care instructions; compare colour transfer, shrinkage and backing adhesion with the agreed specification.
Labels and packing: match fibre labels to the use surface and supporting composition evidence; check design identifiers, carton contents, dampness and creases before accepting stock.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may reproduce the artwork with fewer yarn colours or a looser weave, losing detail around faces, lettering and borders. Uneven weaving tension can skew the motif and leave the rug rippled. A convincing sample does not establish that the production batch uses the same yarn and construction.
Dark yarns can transfer colour during cleaning, while backing and face fabrics can shrink differently and curl the edges. Keep an approved sample, record defects by design and batch, and agree checks through quality inspection before shipment.
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 tapestry rugs from China?
The relevant finished flatwoven lines carry 8%. Qualifying Kelem, Schumacks, Karamanie and similar hand-woven rugs carry 2%. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does a tapestry design qualify for the hand-woven duty?
The design alone does not establish eligibility. Confirm the construction and whether the rug belongs to the qualifying hand-woven category before using the 2% line.
What fibre label does a tapestry rug need?
Show the fibre composition, and confirm with the relevant authority whether the label should describe the use surface and which fibre names are permitted. Check the supplier's composition evidence against the proposed label.
How do I check whether tapestry rugs will curl?
Lay unpacked samples on a level floor, inspect corners and edges, and repeat after cleaning according to the proposed care instructions. Compare shape and dimensions with the approved sample.