China to United Kingdom Trade Guide

Trade Relationship Overview

Following Brexit, the UK established its own independent trade policy via the UK Global Tariff (UKGT), which replaced the EU's Common External Tariff for UK-bound goods starting January 2021. While many UKGT rates closely mirror the previous EU rates, the UK has made independent decisions on specific tariff lines and trade remedy measures — meaning rates can now diverge from EU rates for the same product.

China-UK trade operates under standard MFN treatment, with the UK maintaining (and in some cases modifying) anti-dumping measures inherited from the EU framework, plus introducing some new UK-specific trade remedies post-Brexit.

UK Global Tariff Rates by Category

Category	HS Chapter	UKGT Rate	vs. Pre-Brexit EU Rate
Textiles & Apparel	61–62	8–12%	Largely unchanged
Electronics	84–85	0–3.7%	Largely unchanged
Ceramics	69	Up to 36%+ with AD duty	UK retained EU AD measures initially, since reviewed independently
Footwear	64	8–16%	Largely unchanged
Steel Products	72–73	0–4% + safeguard measures	UK introduced independent steel safeguards

💡 Post-Brexit Divergence Is Ongoing

The UK continues to review and modify trade remedy measures independently of the EU. A tariff or AD duty rate that applied identically in both markets in 2021 may have since diverged. Always check the UK's specific tariff database (UK Trade Tariff tool) rather than assuming EU rates apply.

Required Documents

Commercial Invoice & Packing List

Standard documentation, in GBP or with clear currency conversion.

Bill of Lading

From the ocean or air carrier.

EORI Number (GB-prefixed)

UK importers need a GB EORI number, separate from any EU EORI they may also hold.

UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) Marking

Replacing CE marking for many product categories sold in Great Britain (Northern Ireland retains some CE marking acceptance under separate arrangements).

Import VAT Registration

UK importers need to account for import VAT, typically via postponed VAT accounting on their VAT return.

Key Post-Brexit Changes to Be Aware Of

UKCA marking — gradually replacing CE marking for goods sold in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
Independent trade remedies — the UK Trade Remedies Authority now conducts its own AD/CVD investigations separate from the EU
Separate customs declarations — UK and EU customs entries are now fully independent; goods cleared for EU sale require separate UK clearance
Northern Ireland Protocol complexities — goods moving to Northern Ireland may have different requirements than Great Britain due to its unique post-Brexit trading arrangements

Common HS Codes for This Route

6109.10 Cotton T-Shirts 12%

8517.13 Smartphones 0%

6911.10 Ceramic Tableware 36%+

6403.91 Leather Footwear 8%

9403.30 Wooden Furniture 0–2.7%

For a complete classification lookup, use our HS Code Lookup tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are UK tariffs on China the same as EU tariffs?

Initially the UK Global Tariff largely mirrored EU rates, but the two have been diverging gradually since 2021 as the UK conducts independent tariff reviews and trade remedy investigations. Always verify current UK-specific rates.

Do I need separate customs clearance for UK and EU sales?

Yes. Since Brexit, UK and EU customs territories are fully separate. Goods cleared for sale in the EU cannot automatically be sold in the UK without separate UK customs clearance, and vice versa.

What is UKCA marking and do I need it?

UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is replacing CE marking for many products sold in Great Britain. Check current requirements for your specific product category, as transition deadlines have been extended multiple times.

Calculate your exact costs for this route

Enter your product details to get a full tariff and landed cost breakdown for China → United Kingdom shipments.

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